Would legalizing marijuana help the economy?

[phk]

Would legalizing marijuana help the economy?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

absolutely

[© tweed]

Yes, by a small margin.  It would increase federal revenues provided there was a tax, as well as cut some federal spending that fights marijuana as part of the drug war.  It would help private businesses a little too, as they would have a new product that would fly off the shelves.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Yes.  There will be a tax on it and the government would profit from the sale itself.

Ain't gonna happen though.

[Joe Republic]

Probably not very much.  The extra money from the sales revenue would help cover the cost of the growth in the workshy slacker culture.

[jokerman]

In the short term -Yes, definitly.

In the long term -Definitly not.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Legalizing it wouldn't do a whole lot.  The people who smoke it illegally now would just smoke it legally.

[John Dibble]

A little, sure. There would be a slight increase in tax revenue, a new legal way to make money, and the crime related to the black market for drugs would drop a bit as well.

[opebo]

By far the greatest economic benefit would be the reduction in citizens being jailed for no reason.  This jailing of course involves a high direct cost in terms of running the jails, but the much higher cost is not the hiring of the jailers, but the damage that is done to the unjustly jailed, either in terms of violence inflicted upon them by 'real' criminals, rape, disease, or just damage to their careers.

[Ebowed]

Legalizing it wouldn't do a whole lot.  The people who smoke it illegally now would just smoke it legally.

Are you opposed to legalization?

By far the greatest economic benefit would be the reduction in citizens being jailed for no reason.

I agree with this, as well as Boss Tweed's analysis.

[The Duke]

Obviously not.  Worker productivity would decrease, and worker productivity is one of the most important factors in economic growth.

[Alcon]

Obviously not.  Worker productivity would decrease, and worker productivity is one of the most important factors in economic growth.

Do you really think the level of worker productivity would increase significantly enough to offset the free trade gains?

[Gabu]

Worker productivity would decrease

Why would this be the case?  I have a friend who knows some people who do drugs while working, even though it's illegal to do so.  It seems to me that anyone delinquent enough to do marijuana while on the job is likely to be doing it anyway, regardless of its legality.

At any rate, I don't see why companies couldn't impose a private ban on the smoking of marijuana or on being under the influence of marijuana at all while working.  It seems to me like a reasonable reason to fire someone if it amounts to the person not doing his or her job.

[opebo]

Obviously not.  Worker productivity would decrease, and worker productivity is one of the most important factors in economic growth.

The vast majority of jobs could be done by an ape, Ford.  Being a little baked isn't going to greatly effect the productivity of America's vast armies of retail drones and fast-food fryers.

[MODU]

Yes, it would help the economy, since it will be taxable.  However, just because it helps the economy doesn't mean it should be legal.

[Speed of Sound]

Yes it would. the mass amount of tax money made off of it would be a great economy booster. It would also open up a crap load of new jobs.

[MODU]

Yes it would. the mass amount of tax money made off of it would be a great economy booster. It would also open up a crap load of new jobs.

Yeah, for all them illegal immigrants who come over to tend the fields. 

[The Constitarian]

yes, it would drive the price of marijuana down.  This would keep more money in the U.S.  Also, it would result in unfare excise taxes on other "unsafe" products.

[MaC]

A little, sure. There would be a slight increase in tax revenue, a new legal way to make money, and the crime related to the black market for drugs would drop a bit as well.

Plus, it would take a chunk of government spending out of the 'War on Drugs'.

[phk]

Yes it would. the mass amount of tax money made off of it would be a great economy booster. It would also open up a crap load of new jobs.

Yeah, for all them illegal immigrants who come over to tend the fields. 

Those illegal immigrants with thier cheap labor lower interest rates.

[freedomburns]

Yes, and best of all the quality of the herb would improve, too, from scientific, regulated and controlled grow rooms.

Herb is the biggest cash crop in California.  The vast majority of it is grown domestically.  This has increased dramatically recently as there has been a significant crackdown on illegal border crossings and hence smuggling.

[patrick1]

yes, it would drive the price of marijuana down.  This would keep more money in the U.S.  Also, it would result in unfare excise taxes on other "unsafe" products.

Marijuana would go up in price, IMO.  The government would tax the hell out of it.  If marijuana was ever legalized I could see a separate black market developing for cheaper non governmently regulated maryjane- similar to people breaking the cigarette taxes by smuggling them across borders.

[patrick1]

The vast majority of jobs could be done by an ape, Ford.  Being a little baked isn't going to greatly effect the productivity of America's vast armies of retail drones and fast-food fryers.

LOL