Who said it would be easy?

[masterrig 1]

http://home.myhughesnet.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CDA4NOC7O0%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1011


Chuck

[NewGuy2005 53]

I predict that once Washington and Colorado get it worked out, there will be a "gold rush" of other states that will then legalize.

[masterrig 1]

No matter what is done about weed, the gangs and cartels will still control coke, meth, black tar and others. Or do we legalize all that, too?
There's a lot more to it than 'just legalize and tax it'.


Chuck

[sfzombie 3]

no, that's all there is to it. and cartels don't control meth, at least not in wv...too many people making around here. and when they do legalize it, then who cares if the cartels are bringing it in? as long as it's legal here, then most of the violence will stop. and the smuggling will subside heavily, and may stop as well. a lot safer just to declare it and pay taxes rather than lose it when it's confiscated. and they still make a shit ton of money. as do the governments in tax revenue.

http://kitswv.com

[masterrig 1]

Missouri, too... but those are just two States out of the total 50 States. I don't know of anywhere in the states that produce coke or black tar... two biggies with cartels. Does anyone know for sure, that gangs won't have an influence on weed production and distribution? After all, the gangs are nothing to sneeze at and not too many folks here seems to realize what they are capable of. Or they just don't want to face it!? It's that 'elephant in the living room' thing.


Chuck

[DiverMike 5]

I don't think the gangs will stand much of a chance against organized American Capitalism. Do you think they would have a more effective supply chain than Anheiser-Busch, or Walmart? Do you think they will have any clout with police or the feds like large companies that spend millions on lobbyists? Once the product becomes legal, the gangs will be something to be sneezed at. Corporate America will provide a better product at a cheaper price.

For the same reason I jump off a perfectly good diving board.

[masterrig 1]

I guess, we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes-out. It's a bit early to tell.


Chuck

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Quote

I guess, we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes-out. It's a bit early to tell.


Chuck

Look at what happened after Prohibition was repealed.

The legit producers marketed a product that was way, way better, cheaper even when taxed, and with far less hassle than the bootleggers.
Organized crime got out of it fast because there wasn't a quick buck to be made. Most of them were smuggling it in anyway, not producing it. Once the black market went away, smuggling did too.
Sure, the moonshiners were still making their stuff, but except for a few limited areas, it died off completely.

And while good moonshine is pretty good, most of it (like 99%+) isn't good. It's shit. With contaminants that are poison.
That's how the 'shiners can make it cheap.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[ManagingPrime 0]

Quote

No matter what is done about weed, the gangs and cartels will still control coke, meth, black tar and others. Or do we legalize all that, too?
There's a lot more to it than 'just legalize and tax it'.


Chuck

To my understanding the cartels move Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth and Heroin across the US/Mexico border. It's also my understanding that Marijuana is the top import, followed by cocaine, meth and Heroin.

While they supply a lot of meth in the SW US the majority of meth production is domestic. Additionally, they don't send all that much Heroin across the US MEX border....that's a different shade of cartel, seeing as how 93% of the worlds heroin is coming out of our colony, (cough), I mean war zone, in Afghanistan.

Legalizing marijuana will be a major blow to the cartels.

I'm not so sure that legalizing cocaine and heroin are the best way to go. But, if we are serious about the violence in mexico we need to look at a way of "pricing" them out of the game.

The Dutch and Swiss have seen excellent results from Heroin clinics where they give two doses a day to addicts.

http://sciencenordic.com/heroin-clinics-improve-addicts-lives

[Southern_Man 0]

Quote

No matter what is done about weed, the gangs and cartels will still control coke, meth, black tar and others. Or do we legalize all that, too?
There's a lot more to it than 'just legalize and tax it'.


Chuck

One perhaps overly optimistic hope that I have is that less people will be willing to try dangerous untested drugs such as "spice" and "bath salts" if they have legal access to marijuana. After all, one of the way those things got a foothold in the market is that they were able to be sold legally at convenience stores. They have been quite a scourge in my community.

In the same way, it is possible that legal marijuana will lower the demand for other illicit drugs (but only lower not eliminate).

Anyway, one possibility, probably too optimistic.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

I guess, we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes-out. It's a bit early to tell.


Chuck

Look at what happened after Prohibition was repealed.

The legit producers marketed a product that was way, way better, cheaper even when taxed, and with far less hassle than the bootleggers.
Organized crime got out of it fast because there wasn't a quick buck to be made. Most of them were smuggling it in anyway, not producing it. Once the black market went away, smuggling did too.
Sure, the moonshiners were still making their stuff, but except for a few limited areas, it died off completely.

And while good moonshine is pretty good, most of it (like 99%+) isn't good. It's shit. With contaminants that are poison.
That's how the 'shiners can make it cheap.

Losing the weed trade wouldn't hurt the cartels. Hell, they keep all them U.S. dollars in warehouses!


Chuck

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

No matter what is done about weed, the gangs and cartels will still control coke, meth, black tar and others. Or do we legalize all that, too?
There's a lot more to it than 'just legalize and tax it'.


Chuck

To my understanding the cartels move Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth and Heroin across the US/Mexico border. It's also my understanding that Marijuana is the top import, followed by cocaine, meth and Heroin.

While they supply a lot of meth in the SW US the majority of meth production is domestic. Additionally, they don't send all that much Heroin across the US MEX border....that's a different shade of cartel, seeing as how 93% of the worlds heroin is coming out of our colony, (cough), I mean war zone, in Afghanistan.

Legalizing marijuana will be a major blow to the cartels.

I'm not so sure that legalizing cocaine and heroin are the best way to go. But, if we are serious about the violence in mexico we need to look at a way of "pricing" them out of the game.

The Dutch and Swiss have seen excellent results from Heroin clinics where they give two doses a day to addicts.

http://sciencenordic.com/heroin-clinics-improve-addicts-lives

The cartels would still have the coke, meth and heroin trade. They'd just have to push the coke just a little harder. Maybe drop the price a bit but once they get 'em hooked, they raise the price. Losing weed won't even slow them down. Unless folks push to get those legalized too.


Chuck

[freethefly 6]

Legalization of marijuana will free up LEO's to focus on actual dangerous drugs, like cocaine and heroin. My nephew is a drug cop. According to him, the DEA's main focus is busting pot dealers while the worst of the worst continue on with selling poison. That is just plain crazy. No real priority. Legalize and focus on the real problem. I know a woman who is a heroin addict. She has been busted a number of times yet, she is constantly let loose. They refuse to deal with her. This is in St.Louis. On the other hand, I have friends who are doing time for selling a few ounces of weed.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

No matter what is done about weed, the gangs and cartels will still control coke, meth, black tar and others. Or do we legalize all that, too?
There's a lot more to it than 'just legalize and tax it'.


Chuck

One perhaps overly optimistic hope that I have is that less people will be willing to try dangerous untested drugs such as "spice" and "bath salts" if they have legal access to marijuana. After all, one of the way those things got a foothold in the market is that they were able to be sold legally at convenience stores. They have been quite a scourge in my community.

In the same way, it is possible that legal marijuana will lower the demand for other illicit drugs (but only lower not eliminate).

Anyway, one possibility, probably too optimistic.

That stuff hit West Texas awhile back and had everbody scrambling to keep it out of the hands of kids. All the convenience stores were making a killing on 'bath salts'. It's mind boggling to me, the stuff people will shoot-up, smoke or ingest in their efforts to get high. Years ago, kids were going out to pump jack locations to 'sniff' H2S gas for a high!


Chuck

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Legalization of marijuana will free up LEO's to focus on actual dangerous drugs, like cocaine and heroin. My nephew is a drug cop. According to him, the DEA's main focus is busting pot dealers while the worst of the worst continue on with selling poison. That is just plain crazy. No real priority. Legalize and focus on the real problem. I know a woman who is a heroin addict. She has been busted a number of times yet, she is constantly let loose. They refuse to deal with her. This is in St.Louis. On the other hand, I have friends who are doing time for selling a few ounces of weed.

Really makes one wonder.


Chuck

[OHCHUTE 0]

The states have co-opted the business of mafia. Gambling, numbers (lottery), drugs etc. OH forgot, Mafia is running the country, and people think Obama is in charge. LOL

[ManagingPrime 0]

Quote

The cartels would still have the coke, meth and heroin trade. They'd just have to push the coke just a little harder. Maybe drop the price a bit but once they get 'em hooked, they raise the price. Losing weed won't even slow them down. Unless folks push to get those legalized too.


Chuck

Me thinks you give them too much credit.

[masterrig 1]

Cuck

[masterrig 1]

Never under estmate your opponent.


Chuck