CityOfAngels

I say it's a random conspiracy theory because I never really post in this forum at all, and I don't really have any proof or basis for this theory; I just thought it up randomly. Here it is:

The U.S. and other governments finance drug lords. They then make it illegal to own, make, possess without ownership, sell and/or use drugs in their own countries so that the drug lords will have reason to charge more (not only does scarcity play an issue, but so does the fact that it's illegal and difficult to traffic). The governments then receive a large, UNDOCUMENTED sum of money from the said drug lords as investment profit. Who knows what they do with this said money (other than line their own pockets and pork off the fat of the land, and investing in narcotics). Big-time dealers know about this, but they don't share the profits with the drug lords. They just profit by buying and selling, and hoping not to get caught. Every once in awhile the police will make a "big bust" and arrest a big time dealer to send out the message: "If you let this secret out, this is what will happen to you." Smaller dealers have no idea; they're just trying to make a living. Buyers are just trying to have an experience different than what everyday life brings to them, but unfortunately for them, it's illegal and they must pay more. It's all a cycle.

Now I don't advocate the sale or use of drugs, but this is just so obvious. Why else would marijuana be illegal? Yes, it impairs your motor skills, but so does alcohol, which is a legal substance. Yes, it fucks up your lungs, but so does tobacco, which is a legal substance. The difference between alcohol/tobacco and marijuana is not everyone would like alcohol or tobacco, while a large percentage of people WOULD like marijuana. They use the excuse "How would the world be if everyone walked around stoned?" to make it illegal, while in reality, they just want it to be illegal so they can make more money off of it. On top of it all, making it illegal insults society, saying, "I don't trust ANYONE in the country to use this substance properly, so you can't use it AT ALL." The thing is they say that a solution to this problem with other substances such as over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, and tobacco can be found in something as simple as warning labels. Why isn't it the same for marijuana?

Just think about it. It's a class-level industry. You have three levels. The drugs that have mild affects such as relieving small amounts of pain (tylenol, ibuprofen, etc) can be sold over the counter because they have specific uses, which means they're used less and demand for it is less. So the first class-level is "Over-the counter medicines." Prices for this level of drugs is usually very low because it is easy to come by (think scarcity). Then the medicines you REALLY need, like when you just come out of surgery, or when you can't breathe from an athsma attack, etc, are all PRESCRIPTION drugs. Those drugs are usually more expensive because they're harder to come by (can't get a prescription without a doctor's note), and they're only harder to come by because they KNOW we need them more than other drugs. So the second level is "Prescription-level drugs."

The third level must then be "Narcotics and marijuana." I'm sorry, but I can't consider marijuana to be a narcotic (although please correct me if I am scientifically wrong). These are the drugs that not only relieve pain, but they cause us to have PLEASURE. We don't so much as need these drugs, because many of them are SIGNIFICANTLY more harmful to our bodies, but we WANT them. We WANT them because they cause us pleasure, so demand increases GREATLY. The government knows this so they make it illegal, so not only do they have an advantage of demand, but they ALSO have the advantage of scarcity. Double the advantage makes a theoretically doubled price (although I haven't done studies on the differences both supply and demand have on economics).

I don't know. Maybe I'm just crazy.

cj2112

so who in the government would specifically benefit from this?

NoSoup

Well, I suppose if the government was profiting from them, it would make a bit more sense, however - a few thoughts of mine.

You Classificed Marijuana in the "Narcotics" category, where maybe it should be, but keep in mind that in some areas of the US it would fall into the Prescription Drugs category.

Additionally, I would imagine that legalizing Marijuana would increase revenue for the government, as they could tax it much like alchohol or tobacco.

Finally, you mentioned that both alchohol and tobacco are legal. As far as tobacco is concerned, although it is currently legal, it certainly looks like it won't be too much longer, are at least not anywhere near the capacity it is now. With all the Anti-Smoking laws passing recently, I would be surprised if it is still legal within the next 10 years. Alchohol, like you said, can be intoxicating. However, you are able to test (with relative ease) if a person is currently under the influence of alchohol, and how much the alchohol is impairing them (Like the legal limit for someone to have while driving) As far as I know, there is no way to test whether or not a person is under the effect of marijuana at any given time, nor how much they are impaired by the marijuana. Even if there was a way, I don't think that it would be as simple as a breath analysis or simply blood work.

I understand the argument that many people make that it makes you a more cautious driver, doesn't impair judgement, ect - but what it boils down to is this: Would you feel comfortable knowing that your child's bus driver is high while driving him/her to school? Or would you prefer someone who is not under the influence of any drugs or alchohol.

Even if you were to make the case that you don't think that the bus driver should be under the influence, if there are other people on the road under the influence, your child's safety is still at risk.

Just figured I'd throw my two cents in...

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Just in case you were wondering...

zen_tom

Or perhaps you're just smoking too much weed.

Nobody makes any money from Marijuana, because it grows so easily and readily, in addition it has a limited user base among the population, a user base that traditionally has no money anyway. Marijuana is small time because anyone can grow it, anyone can sell it, and it's a lot of hard work for relatively little gain. You would probably make just as much money growing and selling potatoes.

The government has better drugs to make profits from. I'd suggest that the reason Marijuana is illegal is because it causes apathy, neurosis, paranoia, lung damage, and psychosis.

superiorrain

As much as i like the theory and do subscribe to a certain eliment of government using drungs as a means to justify and end. However we also must remember that weed is one of those drugs that not only cause some of the above symptons but also it's one of the stepping stone drugs. I've seen plenty of people start with weed before they started to smoke normal cigarettes, then move their way on to mushrooms, lsd, Es and even cocain. The main thing is they while i have no problems with drug use for those that understand it's effects and damage it can cause. I do have a problem with the other 80% of the population who are simply dumb and know no better - these are the people who need protection from the government (governments being the ones who warn of use by making it illegal).

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