Pot Economics & Unintended Consequences

[Silhouette]

Pot was the old way of trickle down from the rich classes to the poor. Quite a booming economy was built around that black market. Now, the poor in their zeal to be blind and stupid hippies in a utopia, have legalized pot. Which is the same as saying they've made a disincentive for their old customers to redistribute wealth to the lower classes who were typically the ones who grew, processed and sold pot to the wealthy.

Making pot legal and free has more than just this consequence. If it is cheap or nearly free, kids will have much easier access to it. And this is a bad thing. But then again, now that it is legal, the kids won't have the romance of rebellion with it and will now start chasing harder more "naughty" drugs to "show their parents". And what do you know? Heroin overdoses and addiction are skyrocketing among youth. We know a kid who just died last Fall. He had been partying, doing heroin at a rave. They found him on the front porch sitting in the rain, dead as a doornail. They think he was trying to come out of the deep and dangerous "high" by sitting in the rain. It didn't work.

At a time in our nation's history when we don't need more kids doing hard drugs and we don't need to cut off that old flow of wealth from upper classes to lower ones by making pot expensive and illegal, we should take a closer look at the economics and unintended consequences of legalizing pot. It's not just that it is a drug. It's that it is much much more than that. If that kid we knew had been smoking [naughty] joints the night before, all they would've found was him on the porch snoring with empty bags of cheetos and ding dongs all around him... His parents were destroyed at the sudden terrible news. They would vote to make pot legal though. Ironic.

 

[R.C. Christian]

What is more concerning is how people will learn to make money off others addictions. It will start with the police first and trickle down. A new industry will emerge. Stoners are worthless. The lowest of the low.

 

[Silhouette]

What is more concerning is how people will learn to make money off others addictions. It will start with the police first and trickle down. A new industry will emerge. Stoners are worthless. The lowest of the low.

It's unclear from your post whether or not you agree or disagree with the OP.

 

[Mr. H.]

Is medical weed or "legal" weed really any cheaper?

 

[Montrovant]

Pot was the old way of trickle down from the rich classes to the poor. Quite a booming economy was built around that black market. Now, the poor in their zeal to be blind and stupid hippies in a utopia, have legalized pot. Which is the same as saying they've made a disincentive for their old customers to redistribute wealth to the lower classes who were typically the ones who grew, processed and sold pot to the wealthy.

Making pot legal and free has more than just this consequence. If it is cheap or nearly free, kids will have much easier access to it. And this is a bad thing. But then again, now that it is legal, the kids won't have the romance of rebellion with it and will now start chasing harder more "naughty" drugs to "show their parents". And what do you know? Heroin overdoses and addiction are skyrocketing among youth. We know a kid who just died last Fall. He had been partying, doing heroin at a rave. They found him on the front porch sitting in the rain, dead as a doornail. They think he was trying to come out of the deep and dangerous "high" by sitting in the rain. It didn't work.

At a time in our nation's history when we don't need more kids doing hard drugs and we don't need to cut off that old flow of wealth from upper classes to lower ones by making pot expensive and illegal, we should take a closer look at the economics and unintended consequences of legalizing pot. It's not just that it is a drug. It's that it is much much more than that. If that kid we knew had been smoking [naughty] joints the night before, all they would've found was him on the porch snoring with empty bags of cheetos and ding dongs all around him... His parents were destroyed at the sudden terrible news. They would vote to make pot legal though. Ironic.

Wow, what a rambling, ridiculous rant.

Pot is typically grown by the poor and sold to the wealthy? Where do you get the idea that pot is a drug primarily used by the wealthy?

Are you trying to connect heroin overdoses to legalized pot? I hate to tell you, but legalized recreational pot is a very recent thing and only in two states. Any stats on increases in heroin overdoses almost certainly must have come from before that legalization.

Yep, all those kids who would do pot if it remained illegal will instead turn to heroin. Perfectly sensible conclusion backed up by heaps of evidence.....

 

[itfitzme]

Here is a report on illicit drug use, presented by year and broken down by age group and type of drug.

Results from the 2012 NSDUH: Summary of National Findings, SAMHSA, CBHSQ



No upward trend for young adults.

For the 50 and over age brackets,



Upward

 

[R.C. Christian]

What is more concerning is how people will learn to make money off others addictions. It will start with the police first and trickle down. A new industry will emerge. Stoners are worthless. The lowest of the low.

It's unclear from your post whether or not you agree or disagree with the OP.

I'm undecided although I know that THC is no less a drug and no less addictive than anything south of meth or heroin. The war on drugs has completely militarized the police for example. I don't see any good coming from it.

 

[Moonglow]

pot is no worse than alcohol, yet it is illegal by cultural differences.

 

[Silhouette]

Pot was the old way of trickle down from the rich classes to the poor. Quite a booming economy was built around that black market. Now, the poor in their zeal to be blind and stupid hippies in a utopia, have legalized pot. Which is the same as saying they've made a disincentive for their old customers to redistribute wealth to the lower classes who were typically the ones who grew, processed and sold pot to the wealthy.

Making pot legal and free has more than just this consequence. If it is cheap or nearly free, kids will have much easier access to it. And this is a bad thing. But then again, now that it is legal, the kids won't have the romance of rebellion with it and will now start chasing harder more "naughty" drugs to "show their parents". And what do you know? Heroin overdoses and addiction are skyrocketing among youth. We know a kid who just died last Fall. He had been partying, doing heroin at a rave. They found him on the front porch sitting in the rain, dead as a doornail. They think he was trying to come out of the deep and dangerous "high" by sitting in the rain. It didn't work.

At a time in our nation's history when we don't need more kids doing hard drugs and we don't need to cut off that old flow of wealth from upper classes to lower ones by making pot expensive and illegal, we should take a closer look at the economics and unintended consequences of legalizing pot. It's not just that it is a drug. It's that it is much much more than that. If that kid we knew had been smoking [naughty] joints the night before, all they would've found was him on the porch snoring with empty bags of cheetos and ding dongs all around him... His parents were destroyed at the sudden terrible news. They would vote to make pot legal though. Ironic.

Wow, what a rambling, ridiculous rant.

Pot is typically grown by the poor and sold to the wealthy? Where do you get the idea that pot is a drug primarily used by the wealthy?

Are you trying to connect heroin overdoses to legalized pot? I hate to tell you, but legalized recreational pot is a very recent thing and only in two states. Any stats on increases in heroin overdoses almost certainly must have come from before that legalization.

Yep, all those kids who would do pot if it remained illegal will instead turn to heroin. Perfectly sensible conclusion backed up by heaps of evidence.....

Pot isn't something exclusively consumed by the wealthy. But mark my words, the wealthy smoke pot as often as the poor, only they do it more discreetly and almost never go to jail for it. The point was that they were a crucial part of that economic trickle down but won't be when Philipp Morris has super ganga packs at the checkout counter for $10 apiece. Did you think Philpp Morris and other tobacco moguls weren't going to get in on the legal weed act? They have tracts of land bought and sitting fallow right now waiting for the ahem "green" light.

If that's what people want, that's what they want. Only when kids see the ganga sticks at the checkout counter they're going to lose their naughty mystique and the kids will turn to harder drugs to rebel.

Dumb hippies always do stuff first and think later.

 

[Montrovant]

Pot was the old way of trickle down from the rich classes to the poor. Quite a booming economy was built around that black market. Now, the poor in their zeal to be blind and stupid hippies in a utopia, have legalized pot. Which is the same as saying they've made a disincentive for their old customers to redistribute wealth to the lower classes who were typically the ones who grew, processed and sold pot to the wealthy.

Making pot legal and free has more than just this consequence. If it is cheap or nearly free, kids will have much easier access to it. And this is a bad thing. But then again, now that it is legal, the kids won't have the romance of rebellion with it and will now start chasing harder more "naughty" drugs to "show their parents". And what do you know? Heroin overdoses and addiction are skyrocketing among youth. We know a kid who just died last Fall. He had been partying, doing heroin at a rave. They found him on the front porch sitting in the rain, dead as a doornail. They think he was trying to come out of the deep and dangerous "high" by sitting in the rain. It didn't work.

At a time in our nation's history when we don't need more kids doing hard drugs and we don't need to cut off that old flow of wealth from upper classes to lower ones by making pot expensive and illegal, we should take a closer look at the economics and unintended consequences of legalizing pot. It's not just that it is a drug. It's that it is much much more than that. If that kid we knew had been smoking [naughty] joints the night before, all they would've found was him on the porch snoring with empty bags of cheetos and ding dongs all around him... His parents were destroyed at the sudden terrible news. They would vote to make pot legal though. Ironic.

Wow, what a rambling, ridiculous rant.

Pot is typically grown by the poor and sold to the wealthy? Where do you get the idea that pot is a drug primarily used by the wealthy?

Are you trying to connect heroin overdoses to legalized pot? I hate to tell you, but legalized recreational pot is a very recent thing and only in two states. Any stats on increases in heroin overdoses almost certainly must have come from before that legalization.

Yep, all those kids who would do pot if it remained illegal will instead turn to heroin. Perfectly sensible conclusion backed up by heaps of evidence.....

Pot isn't something exclusively consumed by the wealthy. But mark my words, the wealthy smoke pot as often as the poor, only they do it more discreetly and almost never go to jail for it. The point was that they were a crucial part of that economic trickle down but won't be when Philipp Morris has super ganga packs at the checkout counter for $10 apiece. Did you think Philpp Morris and other tobacco moguls weren't going to get in on the legal weed act? They have tracts of land bought and sitting fallow right now waiting for the ahem "green" light.

If that's what people want, that's what they want. Only when kids see the ganga sticks at the checkout counter they're going to lose their naughty mystique and the kids will turn to harder drugs to rebel.

Dumb hippies always do stuff first and think later.

Do you mean like the way kids stop seeing the naughty mystique of alcohol when they hit 21 and turn to harder drugs?

I find it hilarious that you seem to be advocating keeping pot illegal because the money from pot sales trickles down to the poor. Is that some kind of Rastafarian Reaganomics?

 

[Moonglow]

When I grew pot it was for myself, not to sell to others.

 

[R.C. Christian]

My wife used to be an intake specialist. I've seen countless mothers lose their kids once CPS finds out that mommy and daddy smoke weed. And it is addictive, and is a gateway drug so there is really no reason to touch it. It may not scar you liver, but it will still screw you up eventually.

 

[Harry Dresden]

When I grew pot it was for myself, not to sell to others.

was it good stuff?.....

 

[Moonglow]

When I grew pot it was for myself, not to sell to others.

was it good stuff?.....

oh yeah!

 

[CaféAuLait]

pot is no worse than alcohol, yet it is illegal by cultural differences.

I don't care if people smoke pot or cigarettes or not. What bothers me is the fight against tobacco and its harmful effects on people but we are fighting to legalize something which will be just as harmful.

Marijuana smoke contains a greater amount of carcinogens than tobacco smoke. In addition, marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, further increasing the lungs exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Marijuana use is not only associated with adverse physical effects, but also mental, emotional and behavioral changes.

People who smoke marijuana frequently, but do not smoke tobacco, have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers. Many of these extra sick days are due to respiratory illnesses.

Patients considering using marijuana for medicinal purposes should make this decision in consultation with their doctor, and consider means of administration other than smoking.

Health Hazards of Smoking Marijuana - American Lung Association


It just seems strange to me to demonize people who smoke cigarettes while embracing another form of smoking. Yes, I'm aware one can ingest pot, however there are those looking for an immediate high and will prefer to smoke as opposed to edibles since the effect takes longer.

 

[Moonglow]

pot is no worse than alcohol, yet it is illegal by cultural differences.

I don't care if people smoke pot or cigarettes or not. What bothers me is the fight against tobacco and its harmful effects on people but we are fighting to legalize something which will be just as harmful.

Marijuana smoke contains a greater amount of carcinogens than tobacco smoke. In addition, marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, further increasing the lungs exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Marijuana use is not only associated with adverse physical effects, but also mental, emotional and behavioral changes.

People who smoke marijuana frequently, but do not smoke tobacco, have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers. Many of these extra sick days are due to respiratory illnesses.

Patients considering using marijuana for medicinal purposes should make this decision in consultation with their doctor, and consider means of administration other than smoking.

Health Hazards of Smoking Marijuana - American Lung Association


It just seems strange to me to demonize people who smoke cigarettes while embracing another form of smoking. Yes, I'm aware one can ingest pot, however there are those looking for an immediate high and will prefer to smoke as opposed to edibles since the effect takes longer.

Which is your fav?

 

[CaféAuLait]

pot is no worse than alcohol, yet it is illegal by cultural differences.

I don't care if people smoke pot or cigarettes or not. What bothers me is the fight against tobacco and its harmful effects on people but we are fighting to legalize something which will be just as harmful.

Marijuana smoke contains a greater amount of carcinogens than tobacco smoke. In addition, marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, further increasing the lungs exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Marijuana use is not only associated with adverse physical effects, but also mental, emotional and behavioral changes.

People who smoke marijuana frequently, but do not smoke tobacco, have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers. Many of these extra sick days are due to respiratory illnesses.

Patients considering using marijuana for medicinal purposes should make this decision in consultation with their doctor, and consider means of administration other than smoking.

Health Hazards of Smoking Marijuana - American Lung Association


It just seems strange to me to demonize people who smoke cigarettes while embracing another form of smoking. Yes, I'm aware one can ingest pot, however there are those looking for an immediate high and will prefer to smoke as opposed to edibles since the effect takes longer.

Which is your fav?

I've smoked both when in high school. I did not care for either very much. I have friends who "wake and bake" and friends who smoke tobacco. Its strange I love the smell of cigar shops and pipe shops though.

 

[Harry Dresden]

When I grew pot it was for myself, not to sell to others.

was it good stuff?.....

oh yeah!

.....they should find a pot smilie.....

 

[Silhouette]

Do any of you have an opinion on either the economic aspect of legalizing pot or the "lesser of two evils" aspect for teenagers regarding keeping pot illegal as per the OP? Or are you too baked to remember what this thread is about?

 

[Steven_R]

From an economic standpoint, all prohibiting pot did was create a black market economy for it, which meant more people would get involved with creating it because of the tremendous profits involved.

Nevermind that, let's look at the destabilizing influences in areas where drugs are made. Countries south of the border are havens for corruption, we push their governments to crack down on their own people, and when they do so the producers move to the next country over in a Push Down-Pop Up effect. We push on Bolivia and Colombia to crack down on drug production, so production moves to Mexico. Bravo.

And of course with prohibition and black markets we get violence. Gangs, booby trapped woods, killings, all kinds of great things.

And since government has to "do something" they crack down on normal citizens and the courts go along with it. Was keeping kids off pot worth gutting the First and Fourth Amendments?