Cannabis Tax
One group of citizens would be more than happy to pay more taxes in Champaign and solve the city's budget woes.
But Cannabis is illegal of course, and there is no political courage or will to legalize it.
The culture/morality warriors would scream about how damaging it would be to youth and society. Reefer Madness would be the topic of the day.
Never mind the failed "drug war" and all the evidence and facts.
Legalize it! Once legal it will be a good source of new revenue for years to come.
The report from the Global
The report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy has stated the global war on drugs is a complete failure. It's good seeing such a large scale report coming out about it with major names behind it.(But unfortunately most of those names are "formers" besides the PM of Greece). As well as they laid out some real solutions with emphasis on the responsibility of the US. [But of course the US just brushed it off... There is too much money to be made from it and lobbying to keep the idiot leaders funded].
Portugal is a great example of decriminalizing drug use. Since 2001 when drug use was decriminalized, drug use has decreased. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html
Last month Connecticut became the 13th state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. It's a starting step for the states but there is a long way to go (and I have my doubts we will ever get to where we need to be)
Illinois has yet to do so, though there are a few places that have decriminalized small amounts. I believe parts cook county, Carbondale, Springfield, and I'm pretty sure Urbana. Though every place varies on the amount (anywhere from less than 2 to less than 10 grams?) as well as the city ordinance violation fine. (Correct me if I'm wrong on any of those places)
The biggest difference that I
The biggest difference that I can tell between illegal drugs and legally available prescription drugs (which Americans seem to be popping like candy) is just that...one is legal and the other isn't. That, and the fact the legal ones are probably a lot more damaging to your health.
People like buz and myself
People like buz and myself have for years been trying to educate people on the futile and highly destructive war on drugs.
The political move in making “drug abuse” a criminal justice issue instead of a medical treatment issue has radically changed our social constructs by corrupting our criminal justice and penal systems. A process that has made us a distrustful and a more brutal nation by virtue of the attitudes brought home each night by our enforcement and penal personnel.
It is a highly profitable, industrial model, that pays handsomely to those who kick in doors and beat down inmates. Profitable enterprises that supply jobs that range from court clerks to prison barber’s, with judges, sheriffs and wardens reaping huge salaries in maintaining the iron hand.
America’s War on Drugs is a brutal system of domination and social manipulation that has ripped our social fabric and emptied our public coffers. A ponzi scheme maintained through constant new drug threats to be met with violence instead of compassion. A great scam upon the American people who are kept fearful by false claims, so that individuals who enforce, process and incarcerate, continue to profited handsomely from the forever war on drugs. .
It is a failed social policy that has morally bankrupted our society, a socially destructive practice that has now initiated the collapse of our society in the form of brutal cartel gangs taking over large sections of both ours and Mexican lands.
It is a sick and twisted attempt at social manipulation and control that has not only failed, but now brings condemnation by the international community who see the perversion for what it really is.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43248071/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/globa...
But then, they don’t want to us to be united, or safe, or thinking, because it’s not part of the plan now in play, a plan that requires lies and deceit to be maintained by the drug war profiteers.
http://revolutionarypolitics.tv/video/viewVideo.php?video_id=15439
One bright light in the distance is the potential legalization of Pot at the federal level as a couple of courageous and forward thinking lawmakers take a stand and do the right thing.
http://reason.com/blog/2011/06/22/barney-frank-and-ron-paul-will
They don't want to legalize
They don't want to legalize any drugs, they don't want any competition.
Something that hasn't asked is how are billions of dollars in cash (illicit drug dealers don't have credit card machines) 'unknowingly' laundered. Of course the answer is that the global banks are well aware of where all this cash is coming from.
Why would they want to
Why would they want to legalize it when they are making a ton off of fines and costs? Did you see about the guy in Paxton who got Fined $60,000 in stupid fines for growing plants. government gone wild.
You are correct. The last I
You are correct. The last I saw, the sky hasn't fallen in those states.
I agree with you Yatiri.
I agree with you Yatiri. It's a joke how we treat marijuana use and distribution in our criminal justice system.
It's just a massive headache to figure out how to do it. What do we do with all the people in prison on Marijuana charges? Do they all get out of jail free?
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