I'm going to say I disagree with this statement overall.

Although right now it would be in the best interest of the country to put most of the money that could be acquired (through legalization of marijuana) to outstanding debt and the deficit, it wouldn't be in the our best interest at very many other times.
Right now the deficit is the worst one the country has had in a long time, but somehow people are always quick to say "revenues increase spendings" which I think is basically the conservative way of saying, "cut taxes because I have too much money."

Instead, how about you say, "Revenues increase money the government gives to the military." The United States allocates more federal funds to the military than any other country (excluding China, maybe?). Keeping that in mind, it would make more sense to allocate funds used for the military to the outstanding deficit. This way, extra money brought in from the sudden legalization of marijuana would be able to go to welfare programs.
Sweden spends twice the amount the U.S. does (proportionately) on welfare programs, including things like healthcare and higher education incentives.
Their standard of living is one of the highest in the world, yet "revenues increase spending" is somehow a legitimate concern for the richest country in the world?

And the statement, "Fiscal responsibility is a thing of the past," does that somehow prove your point? In the last 50 years, the United States has only had a surplus for 13 years. That means that 37 of the last 50 years have ended in a deficit. So you must be going WAY back, right? Fiscal responsibility in the 20s and 30s maybe. Oh wait, that was the Great Depression. My fault.

Most logical plan. Let's invade Iran and just steal their weed.

No, putting away money to pay away at the debt right now would be a horrible idea. Government needs to be re-investing right now in hopes to spur economic activity and restore faith in hopes to increase fluidity of capital.

I'm saying that given other circumstances, I'm all for increasing revenues through taxes. But instead of offsetting these increased tax revenues with more expenses, we could try to pay off some debt. I'm going to ignore the rest of your post because you went out on a tangent that had nothing to do with what I was saying. But I'll touch on it if you want me to.

No, don't touch on the last part of my post, it was just a random tangent about how you were wrong in claiming lack of fiscal responsibility.
I really don't understand the condescending tone you have, your arguments are not that great.
Another thing: your last post has a condescending tone but in my last post I said that right now it would be in the best interest of the country to put the money toward debt.
You were agreeing with me.

Unless you just have poorly crafted sentences that are hard to understand.

"No, putting away money to pay away at the debt right now would be a horrible idea."
Does this mean you think we should pay off debt, or not?
By "putting away money" do you mean investing it in social welfare?

"More at the government, but in your line of thinking is directly the same."
What?

Fiscal responsibility has changed completely recently. Even with deficits, the amount has skyrocketed to a point where we are legitimately taking out loans with almost no intent to pay them back. When that happens, eventually countries are going to stop loaning [see American economy now].

By putting money away, I mean actually returning money that's been invested to the debtors. I stated that normally I would hope we use revenues to pay off our debt, but because of how the economy is now it would not be the right move to pay off debts because their are more pressing concerns. Therefore, I wasn't agreeing with you. Right now, we have more urgent needs than paying off these loans because of how the economy is, and increased revenues would be put to better use by re-investment in our economy.

If the current economic conditions were not present, I'm much more in favor of using revenues to pay off debts so that we have these lines of credit in the future.

You initially related lack of fiscal responsibility to the idea of allocating hypothetical marijuana revenues to education and healthcare, which I don't think relates very much to lacking responsibility.
The point you now make is completely different, and valid.

To your other point: by paying off debts right now, I also meant returning money to debtors, I don't think other debts should be prioritized first when America's credit is so awful.

I related fiscal responsibility to matching revenues with increased spendings and not paying off debts we already have. It's right there in the post I said it in. You either are struggling reading or have some very selective reading habits.

what the hell is fiscal

The Answer
 

Haha, touché.

.

thank you for that link to a definition lol. you learn something every day

I'm charging 25 dollars per link when Google breaks down.

Posted this elsewhere, but its a good read. Read it a few days ago eating breakfast then immediately did my own investigation on clubs. To me, this article is inspiring.

San Francisco Bay Guardian

The more herb man smoke, the more Babylon falls.


and yes. NORML all the way. :)

Its just sad that all drugs aren't legal and regulated somehow....

I mean 18,095 killed total (December 2006–February 2010.) in mexicos drug war *WIKI infomation*

Its never ending.... They kill entire families. Sure Marijuana isnt the big money maker but it does help them. BUY HOMEGROWN!!!

I really dont understand how people do Cocaine with a clear conscience, mean thats a alot of blood just to get them some white powder.

The Prohibition hasn't worked.... Thousands dead and Thousands more in prison sucking up tax money.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1...restschart.gif
Almost 100 people arrested every hour for Marijuana charges... Thats a ****ing joke that the government don't see prohibition doesn't work.

Why don't you think legalizing marijuana would be beneficial for the drug cartels?

Damn I must be bad at conveying my thoughts as usually....

Legalization will hurt the cartels just like ending the alcohol prohibition hurt gangsters here in the USA. I am for Legalization.... At least Decriminalization of certain amounts and plants.

Legalization of Marijuana wont put the cartels out of business but it will at least mean they have less guns.....

I don't think it would make it worse for the cartels at all. They'd still want a piece of that cake which is the american drug market and I'm sure their prices would be competitive with the marijuana sold by the government and/or homegrowers.

everybody should legalize it. alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana and that is a fact.

Really you think that?

I mean for me it would be Free I would grow the legal amount and trade it to friends for their stashes so i get a large variety.

And have you ever smoked Mexican pot? ****ing terrible crap I mean if the America had a large supply of homgrowers and smoke shops selling bud why would you buy dirt from back alleys?

I mean would you Buy....
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1...c06img0353.jpg


or would you buy?
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...weed_f_jpg.jpg

You tell me..... I hope the only reason why anyone would ever buy Mexican Brick is because they cant find dank and they are retarded. Id hope the prices of dank would go down as the ability to supply more would go up.

One of those pictures doesn't work here. ;)

While there would be competition with the cartels, you have to remember there would probably be a lot more users as well - a vast expansion of the market. I'm sure they could sell as much marijuana in a scenario where it's legal as when it's not. Bet you a dollah!

Ill take that bet.... now we might have to wait 50 years.

I do believe some sort of decriminalization will take place in the USA one day, I just hope I am alive when it happens.

*edit what pic not working? I see both of them.

Decriminalization within the next twenty years? Most definitely. However, legalization may take some time thereafter. Most of this has nothing to do with public perception of the drug. Legislation takes a LONG time to enact in this country.

Yes, I think they should legalize. Simply put it.

You are, it is 'decriminalized' to an extent in 14 states now. You can find out the specifics at the NORML website. I planned on picking up a card while I was out here in the West, but you must have a valid state ID. Bummed.

*bottom pic

Yep, in Texas it is no longer a felony for me to drive around with something like under 1 oz. in my possession (maybe even more, I just know I'm allowed more than I would ever have in my car). It's still a misdemeanor, though, so up to the discretion of the cop who catches me whether I even get a ticket (I'd wager that I would only get a warning where I live). In many states possession of any amount is still a felony offense worthy of prison time.

i think it should be legalized but i would definitely not be happy about the possible effects of this. first of all the government would tax it like crazy and most of what would be grown would be low grade government controlled junk.

Alcohol causes more deaths than weed
Cigerretes do more damage than weed
Weed... just awesome, yeah it does have some negative effects but come on! Its so minor when you compare some of the other legal drugs we have out there.

Trust me I know people will find a way to get weed even if its illegal (obviously)... the amount of money estimated to be brought in yearly from pot sold on the street is in the billions! Why not collect tax on that to help the economy? And besides that will cause the munchies and people will buy more food too which further supports the economy! Its win win!

What makes you think there would be a vast expansion of the pot market?
The folks who are morally opposed to smoking pot will still be, regardless of legality. The rest of the pot-smoking population will just resume smoking pot but won't have to worry about getting busted for it and instead of dealing with shady criminals for obtaining their weed, they can just go down the street to a store for premium, guaranteed quality. You'll have to wait a couple generations for the morally opposed to filter out of society and pot to become as normal as alcohol is now.

You know what would have a vast market expansion? Potting soil, High-pressure-sodium light bulbs, Aluminum foil, plant nutrients, and the premium seed market... because every pot smoker with a brain is going to become doctor fucking greenthumb and grow their own pot because it will be completely free and completely legal.

You can't seriously believe that any self-respecting weed smoker is going to choose brown, crappy brick weed from Mexico when they can either grow their own hydro or Kind, buy it from a friend next door, or buy it from the 7-11 down the street.
Besides,
The reason there isn't a grow-room in every pot-smoker's house isn't because it's hard to do. It's not. It's because it's just too risky.

Come on, man.
If you knew the marijuana community, you'd know what I'm saying is true.
The stuff you're saying reminds me of how the media tries to speak for a subculture and completely misses the mark because they have no real experience with it.

I agree with your post...I just think it is interesting to think of pot culture as a "subculture". At least in the US, even in states like Indiana where it is still cracked down on and particularly risky to even use, it has gotten to the point where it is weird if someone does not smoke weed and completely disgusting if someone smokes cigarettes. I smoke both, so I get it coming from all sides.

I think at this point, even with its illegal status, weed is officially part of mainstream US culture...at least youth culture. It just so happens this particular cultural tradition could get you in trouble with the man. It's really interesting when you think about it.

I wasn't really calling the pot culture a subculture. I was using the subculture reference as a comparison for how often people who don't know the intimate details of things often get it wrong when they assume.

Oh yeah...I got you. I just kind of fixated on the "subculture" thing and felt the urge to write about it. I agree with your previous post.

I still believe there will be an expansion in the market and is brick crap really the only product coming out of the cartels? I'd think cannabis plants could thrive down south in the warmth.

Anyways, if you're going to legalize it, you have to assume that consumption will go up and that there will be more users. You might think it won't, but when you're dealing with laws that change a country in a profound way, obviously you make possibilities like that part of the equation.

because americans need to eat more shite food

Taxing something people are going to grow at home is gonna cause quite some headache. ;)

In essence, legalizing it without taxing it doesn't make sense because then you only get the negatives related with marijuana such as marijuana related car accidents, mental health problems, social problems and so on. Legalizing and taxing will potentially make up for those negatives by bringing in cash to the government, but then the government is in a conflict of interest with users and homegrowers who want cheaper pot and that might well lead to criminalization for example in scenarios where they outlaw homegrowing or black market sales.

Actually, I'm loathe to get into this discussion again, but for those with an interest in the subject, there's quite a lot of interesting back-and-forth on the earlier pages with a lot of good points both for and against legalization.

Fix the Bottom pic...

Ya I know about Decriminalization in some states and Ive attended some local NORML Meetings.

Yes you have some Decriminalization in some states but until the federal government acknowledge taking Marijuana off Federal charges and let states handle it on their own completely its pointless.

In South Carolina... Marijuana possession still can be a big thing here.... I am hoping that South Carolina follows after North Carolina in how they have decriminalization and are proposing a Medication law.

South Carolina had a few laws pro-pot going through our house but the guy who proposed them died so the laws died.

Today I read an article about having to have nothing more than a verbal agreement with a card-holding patient to be a 'Primary caregiver', thus allowing the production, transport, and sale of marijuana to that patient. It makes absolutely no sense to me at all how one can become a self proclaimed/employee Weed MD.

mmm legal or not it'll always be there and you won't stop anyone who's determined. munchies=barbecue rice crackers with philadelphia. ohhhhh man