patrick.net

Why should ingesting a plant be illegal?

Because you might not work as hard for your boss, lol. They figure they won't make as much money if you're allowed to get stoned.

Better, just disband the DEA, and withdraw all federal funding from drug enforcement.

I don't think there's any conspiracy from employers to drag on with prohibition, out of fear that their employees won't work as hard.

At this point, I believe that the Federal Government is paralyzed by their past. They thrusted this terrible policy not only on their own citizens, but also many other countries and their people.

So it seems that they are forced to let some time pass. More than half of the states' have put themselves on the other side of the Federal Governments War Against its own People. In every instance, the citizens voted for it.

I assume the trend will continue; more citizens in more states will continue to vote to be on the other side of the War. The Federal Government will stop wasting money on the war. The scary part is State Police are abusing the laws, even in states where it is legalized! The 20-some states yet to enact any legalization measures will get jealous of the revenue, quickly. Kinda like the proliferation of casinos.

Beer distributors profit from decreased public options for entertainment.

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You sure about this?

I remember hearing after a year in Colorado with recreational, alcohol (maybe it was wine) sales went up

Just a suggestion:

Lets change beer distributors to alcohol suppliers and distributors

In terms of how they rationalize their abuse, perhaps we should include the commonly utilized description "gate-way drug"

But overall you are spot on Patrick, as usual.

Thanks, your idea are now added to the original post.

errc says

Beer distributors profit from decreased public options for entertainment.

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You sure about this?

I remember hearing after a year in Colorado with recreational, alcohol (maybe it was wine) sales went up

Actually, I'm not sure they lose profits to pot, but I am sure that they lobby against legalization, perhaps out of a misguided fear:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/21/this-buds-not-for-you-bee_n_732901.html
http://www.laweekly.com/news/beer-lobby-gives-10-000-to-no-on-proposition-19-pot-legalization-2385120
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2010/09/guess-who-is-lobbying-against-marijuana-legalization.html

errc says

I don't think there's any conspiracy from employers to drag on with prohibition, out of fear that their employees won't work as hard.

I think it definitely is a factor:

http://blog.aimnet.org/aim-issueconnect/survey-employers-oppose-marijuana-legalization

Massachusetts employers oppose by a wide margin a pending ballot question that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the commonwealth.

Interesting site.

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/categories/marijuana/

rando says

Because you might not work as hard for your boss, lol. They figure they won't make as much money if you're allowed to get stoned.

No, if that were the case than alcohol would be illegal.

This is the real reason pot is illegal.

www.youtube.com/embed/CJlqsdezhhk

Add to that the prison profit, and you have the real reasons.

So, we should not just legalize marijuana at the federal level, we should go a step further and revoke the federal government's power to make any non-weaponize item illegal and greatly limit if not revoke the power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce. This should be done because these powers were outright abused by the federal government to curtail Constitutional rights and other rights.

The only way to disincentive governments to commit abuses of power is to take away power that has been abused. Until there is a material downside to abusing power, the attitude of politicians and government agents will always be "who cares if I hurt people, there's nothing I lose by trying to abuse power".