This study shows legalising pot would raise about $300 million in GST alone in Australia.

I reckon the drug dealers would declare their income from selling pot because our current laws will seize their assets if convicted selling drugs, by paying GST they become legitimate.

It also says they would save over $100 million a year in law enforcement costs, we have choppers flying over forest near us looking for all those green supporters with the dope plantations every summer.
By freeing up the police they could also tackle serious crimes that have victims.

Colorado legalised pot they raised $72 million in pot taxes last year, crime didn't go up the sky didn't fall down.

smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tax-toke-the-budget-office-models-gst-on-marijuana-20160129-gmhjli.html

Besides moneyed interests, is anyone actually opposed to legalising weed? 

... wrote on Feb 6^th, 2016 at 11:04am:

Besides moneyed interests, is anyone actually opposed to legalising weed?

The states that have legalised pot in the USA are finding about 25% fewer deaths from prescription drug overdoses.

healthline.com/health-news/states-with-legal-marijuana-have-fewer-overdose-deaths-082614

The LDP appear to be the only party in Australia to base policy on evidence.
ldp.org.au/index.php/policies/1268-cannabis

Quote:

Washington, DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier seems fairly enthusiastic about marijuana legalization in the District, even decrying the past system of prohibition and how it tarnished community relations with police. Lanier told the American News Women's club last Wednesday- "All those marijuana arrests do is make people hate us, marijuana smokers are not going to attack and kill a cop,They just want a bag of chips and relax. Alcohol is a much bigger problem" vox.com/2015/3/3/8143371/cathy-lanier-marijuana

The Washington DC police chief says legalising pot is a good thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1U-ttEkl0o

Why do we need the approval of a police chief or the hope of monetary gain to promote Liberty and personal responsibility?

Arrests by type of drug from 1996-1997 to 2006-2007.

Over 50,000 people arrested every year for pot.
www.aic.gov.au/statistics/drug/offences.html
If the police stop arresting 50,000+ people a year for pot perhaps they would have time to investigate other more serious crimes.

The drug war has failed it's time to tax the potheads and let our farmers grow pot

Quote:

Legal marijuana may be doing at least one thing that a decades long drug war couldn't:taking a bite out of Mexican drug cartels profits. washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/03/legal-marijuana-is-finally-doing-what-the-drug-war-couldnt

Marihuana should be legalised.

I am starting to weaken on my absolute opposition to legalising dope.

I still worry about the unintended consequences tho.

miketrees wrote on Mar 28^th, 2016 at 6:58pm:

I am starting to weaken on my absolute opposition to legalising dope. I still worry about the unintended consequences tho.

Than ban alcohol which is more harmful than dope.

legalise it.

The Libertarian wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2016 at 8:39pm:

Why do we need the approval of a police chief or the hope of monetary gain to promote Liberty and personal responsibility?

It's a holdover from Ye Ole Colonial Days Past we have such a hard time letting go of, where we needed Crown approval for everything, & unless it profited enough for the Crown to get it's cut, it wouldn't be approved! http://i.imgur.com/XkMCusQ.png

Oh, & as far as personal responsibility is concerned.....ask any school kid, or household drunk about that & they'd look at you as if you had 2 heads 6 eyes & were talking an Alien lingo!

miketrees wrote on Mar 28^th, 2016 at 6:58pm:

I am starting to weaken on my absolute opposition to legalising dope. I still worry about the unintended consequences tho.

Don't weaken. The long term effects of cannabis can be severe.

They should have a crackdown on narcotic traffickers. 10 years imprisonment minimum. They are doing irreparable damage to society. 

We are too soft on druggies in this country. If somebody commits a crime while under the influence of drugs, the sentence should be increased. It should not be a mitigating circumstance at any time.  Any reasonable person should know that taking drugs increases the probability of committing a crime.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/apr/15/cannabis-scientists-call-for-action-amid-mental-health-concerns


Quote:

The risks of heavy cannabis for mental health are serious enough to warrant global public health campaigns, according to international drugs experts who said young people were particularly vulnerable. What are the true risks of taking cannabis?

Quote:

The warning from scientists in the UK, US, Europe and Australia reflects a growing consensus that frequent use of the drug can increase the risk of psychosis in vulnerable people, and comes as the UN prepares to convene a special session on the global drugs problem for the first time since 1998. The meeting in New York next week aims to unify countries in their efforts to tackle issues around illicit drug use.

---

capitosinora wrote on Mar 28^th, 2016 at 7:40pm:

miketrees wrote on Mar 28th, 2016 at 6:58pm: I am starting to weaken on my absolute opposition to legalising dope. I still worry about the unintended consequences tho. Than ban alcohol which is more harmful than dope.

No it isn't, you pot head, and it's marijuana with a j. Your brain is being eroded.

Yes definitely legalise, actually legalise it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckfp3M3EsrY

Quote:

No Evidence to Support Cannabis/Schizophrenia Link psychiatryadvisor.com/schizophrenia-and-psychoses/marijuana-schizophrenia-psychosis-association/article/441267

Quote:

Smoking Weed Doesn't Harm Lungs If it's A Joint A Day,Even After 20 Years medicaldaily.com/smoking-weed-doesnt-harm-lungs-if-its-joint-day-even-after-20-years-318432

http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201605248687/cannabis-linked-gene-mutation


More bad news for dope smokers.

This Topic was moved here from Drug Policy by freediver.