If Marijuana Were Legalized, How Could The Gov’t Best Regulate It?
The goal of the government would be to eliminate the black market, provide a more educated use of it, influence recreational use over chronic use, make it difficult to get but better than illegal methods, and make a profit to fight more dangerous drugs. I’m not a smoker, but I think time and resources are wasted in its current regulation.
Please do not debate the reasons for/against legalization, simply how the government could most responsibly make legalization happen.
I’m thinking only seeds should be sold, so people can grow it themselves and with limited consumption. No actual consumeable parts should be legally sold. License retailers such as cigarette sellers to sell sealed seed packets from regulated producers. Make it illegal to grow a large amount or resell. Make it illegal to smoke while driving or operating machinery. 18 and over. Increase fines and jail time against any illegal offenses involving the illegal use or selling of it. Can only grow on your property.
might as well put it under the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Regulate it and tax it along with the other “sin taxes”. might as well have the government making money off of it, rather than a bunch of drug dealers.
by Morey000
on 04. Nov, 2009
sell it like booze.
by BCOL CCCP
on 04. Nov, 2009
Tax and regulate it like alcohol. But as long as the republicans are in control it will NEVER happen.
There is too much profit at stake for organized crime for the government to legalize it, which should tell you who is in charge.
by JOHN
on 04. Nov, 2009
theyd make it seedless…and theyd sell it like cigarettes…you know, cigaweeds…over 18 or maybe 21
by etherial
on 04. Nov, 2009
I actually agree with you. But then how can the government ever make any revenues off of the taxes of it?
If it ever becomes legalized (not likely), chances are it will be sold in small quantities at ridiculous prices. Old Uncle Sam only tolerates vices if he can get his greedy paw on some coin.
by midwestb
on 04. Nov, 2009
Don’t use it so don’t really think about it, but why not follow Holland’s example and have ‘Coffee’ houses that legitimately sell joints which you smoke there, just like going out for a drink. No I don’t think they do Take Out!
by Bohemian
on 04. Nov, 2009
It if was legal, there would be no seeds in the commerical smokes. Next because they would be so much cheaper, there would be no real profit for the illegal. Not worth the risk of it.
by fr_chuck
on 05. Nov, 2009
who cares, as long as they tax it heavily! I’m sure they’d subsidize some farmer to change his crop to weed, then process the hell out of it before it made it to market….
by Randi L
on 05. Nov, 2009
The quickest road to success is when we copy those who have already paved the way. The Dutch system of regulation and tolerance has proven quite successful. As for the additional penalties you suggested in your comments, I agree that unregulated sales, sales to minors, DUI offenses, and such would appear to be quite sensible.
by Biran_Se
on 05. Nov, 2009
If it were “legal” there would be no so-called black market. The government should quit trying to run the lives of working people and stick to the business of coordinating relief efforts for disasters resulting from the self-centered gluttony of past and present congresses. The government is seriously lacking when it comes to enforcing law within its spendthrifty and corrupt bureaucracies at all levels, including law-enforcement. It is a free-for-all on the tax-payer, who is also the only one held to the law, as real criminals are too difficult and dangerous to catch and prosecute. (see Dick Cheney) Since marijuana is a natural weed and does not require processing, it also does not warrant regulation by law makers or law enforcement. The best way is to stop being busy-bodies and trying to control other peoples lives, and just mind their own damned business. Neither monetary wealth or job classification can give one person a higher value than another. No person has any authority to give authority to others over others. When congress writes law authorizing man to use deadly force against man, they are countermanding “Thou shalt not kill”. God alone has that power, and He made us all equal in His eyes. Which person writing or enforcing law believes he/she is greater than God to over-rule His authority? That person is legally insane, and should be committed under lock and key. Live and let live or go to hell. That’s what I say, for 2 pts.
by water boy
on 05. Nov, 2009