You really want to stimulate the economy, legalize marijuana

[NightWatcher]

and sell it in stores with a huge tax that makes the price of an ounce of prime sticky, icky about $100. The government could rake in billions in taxes, plus this would stimulate the economy by pumping business into the sale of munchies and music.

[flvegan]

1. With the right resources and space, you have your own small business, too.

Never touched the stuff, but I'm all for legalizing it.

[NightWatcher]

3. tobacco WAS te economy in some states for decades, why not pot?

We are not opposed to killing ourselves in small doses (See fast food, alcohol, and cigarettes). So what if we kill a few brain cells. It might make us more tlerant of a fascist regime as well.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. And legalize the production of hemp

which has many many uses.

[HeraldSquare212]

4. Just as they did with gambling, things will become acceptable if the govt can tax it

tobacco was almost outlawed in England, but then they decided they wanted tax revenues.

[HeraldSquare212]

5. If Pataki had another terms as Gov in NY, I swear heroin would have become legal

Like a typical republican, he was so against raising taxes that he kept pushing things like gambling to raise money instead.

[Vincardog]

6. Bingo. End the "War on US Citizens/Drugs" and save billions as well

[zabet]

7. Best. Idea. Ever.!!!

[Spinzonner]

8. Plus

Reduction in government money spent on police enforcement of marijuana laws and prosecutorial and judicial activity

Reduction in jail/prison costs associated with incarceration, and building prisons and jails.

[JuniperLea]

9. And it would empty jails nation wide...

That would save even more money!

Alcohol is far more hazardous... Mary Jane is extremely benign in comparison, and has many, many health benefits... aye, there's the rub. Big Pharma would never, ever allow legalization.

[catmandu57]

14. That's the problem

The prison industrial complex makes too damn much money to throw it away, those guys are armed too.

[Zynx]

10. I've only heard the Marijuana trade pegged at $40 billion tops. That's

a rounding error in GDP.

[spanone]

11. You have my vote for president AND vice-president

[mirrera]

12. No stems no seeds that you don't' need...

Acapulco Gold is, mmmmm, good weed!

The commercials alone would be SO worth it!:rofl:

[Faux pas]

13. I've been saying that for at least 25 years. So of course I

agree with you! :)

[Warpy]

15. Legalize pot, industrial hemp, and even poppy cultivation

Allow people to buy dried poppy heads. You can either soak them in warm alcohol for a strong solution or in warm water for a weaker tea. Neither is particularly dangerous in terms of dependence. You'd have to drink a pint of the alcoholic tincture a day to develop a problem, and then it would be the alcohol.

Start a new "men on the moon" type program to develop a lot of the research into non petroleum energy. The research is maturing and only needs enough seed money for full development. This would create the next real boom in this country. Just make sure everything is regulated so the thieves don't walk away with all of it.

Create new jobs repairing the crumbling infrastructure. Absorb the bureaucracies of the defunct health insurance giants and retrain them on delivering care, not withholding it until the insured patient is dead.

Most of all, reinstitute penalties on scumbag employers who hire illegal aliens at less than the prevailing wage and exploit them.

It would also be a great idea to redefine the Pentagon's mission as one of defense, not hired muscle for multinational corporations. We could cut their budget in half overnight. Make the rich and corporate pay for the free ride they've had for the past 20+ years thanks to Reaganism.

There is so much work that needs to be done in this country and there are so many ways to fund it. It's all doable. The only question is whether or not our "leaders" are willing to lead and do it.