Should Cannabis Be Legalized And Taxed?

[lynnmarie]

It has been recently stated in the I paper that legalizing cannabis and also taxing it could cut deficit by 1.2 billion. Do you think cannabis should be legalized and taxed? I am studying politics a level and this is one of the issues i will be conducting my debate on, so I was wondering if you could perhaps post your opinions on this issue here? Thankyou!

[B00]

For a startling few seconds i thought the title said "Should Cannibals be legalised and Taxed"

Anyhoo...no, my answer is a resounding no. Just because it saves some money in doing so, it doesn't mean we should give in to it, where would it then stop? Legalising heroin?

[DJHawkes]

yes, as long as it is age restricted like tobacco products

[Old_Geezer]

Yes. Tobacco is. Alcohol is. It seems the danger level is insufficient to justify making cannnabis illegal if they are not. But as with the other substances there should be clear advice on how one ought not abuse it.

[DJHawkes]

the co-op would sell it if it was legalised B00

[ck1]

Yes, legalise and control the supply of all drugs, will take the criminality and money out of the supply, control the quality, farming and price. Good source of revenue aswell

[lynnmarie]

Thankyou guys these are all really good points :)

[Frank97]

Yes, most of the problems caused by drugs seem to be due to the fact that they are illegal, as that approach doesn't work lets try something else.

[DJHawkes]

as long as it's not the super skunk and it's organic, it would stop them spraying it with liquid glass to make it sticky, and rocky is the melted down mush they add petrol, co codamol or paracetamol in to thicken it, not safe, skunk or green is home grown, so organic, grown in a warm window, but hydroponic seeds have to be grown under light and even though you can buy the grass spray legally it's the big businesses and where the real crime is

[ummmm]

Yes. I haven't witnessed many dope heads causing trouble.

Where would it stop? At class A drugs...

[SeaJayPea]

Yes, but sold only through properly licensed premises. I'd suggest chemists' shops, but, once the necessary training has been give, maybe even publicans could do it.

Another advantage might be that the strength of product sold could be held within rigid parameters. I certainly wouldn't be alone in saying that I've encountered stuff over the years that was much, much stronger than anything I'd used before. Now that's a bit scary.

So it would be manufactured by licensed factories, sold by licensed retailers and taxed. Packets would have to carry health warnings, just like cigarettes and there would be much more control over the age of people who get to buy it. Your average street dealer wouldn't give a monkey's over who he sells to, any licensed retailer would have to keep a rigid check on ages.

Another benefit is that it will go at least some way towards putting the illegal traders out of the way. Not guaranteed, of course, but many of them would just pack up.

I can't see that there is any problem with it.

Perhaps I should point out that it's about thirty years since I used any, so the Statute of Limitations must apply, surely?

[lynnmarie]

Studies show that Alcohol and Tobacco can be worse for you, and I most certainly agree that there should be age restrictions, however young people still manage to buy cigarettes and cannabis illegally now, so surely they will still be buying it from their dealers?

[ummmm]

They could get it the same way they get their fags and booze. Get the older kids to buy it for them.

[B00]

Ewww!

[lynnmarie]

It's very easy for underage people to buy age restricted things

[SeaJayPea]

Possibly not, Lynnmarie. If the dealers have lost the biggest part of their business to legal suppliers, why would they continue, just to supply kids? I hear what you say about under age drinking and smoking, that's always been the case (at least, it certainly was when I was 14), but there's nothing at all to stop youngsters acquiring it now, so legalisation would at least go some way to stopping that.

[Old_Geezer]

You can consume it too. Brownies (not young guides) being a favourite transport.

[lynnmarie]

SeaJayPea, if cannabis was legalized, it would be taxed, therefore a ten bag would cost 15-20 pounds, instead of the dealers offer of £10, surely people would continue to go to their dealer and pay less?