You are making the assumption that people spend every dime they make. Hence, money spent at X leaves Y. You are wrong. A new industry facilitate commerce. More commerce = more jobs, more sales, more revenue and more tax income.
People spend too much as it is. You're not gaining jobs, you're re-allocating them from dealers to crown corporations.
You are thinking that alcohol and cigarettes will take a hit? Alcohol and cigarettes have flourished even though taxes are consistently raised on them. Herb will not replace them, it will add to them. Remember, weed is already here! It just isn't taxed and corporations can't dive in.
The assumption is, the market for weed will grow to current users who don't currently purchase the product. Ergo, the new market will have to be funded from somewhere else.
2. Insider trading was made illegal to try and create a fair market and protect shareholders. It has nothing to do with this debate lol
But it poses no health risks to the user.
The VAST MAJORITY of smokers do NOT grow.
Why not? Because it's expensive or because the punishment for growing weed is more severe than possession? Find me a study that proves your theory. You can't legalize something on what ifs.
Furthermore, even if you do grow, there will be times you are out and you have none. Maybe on vacation, or maybe your plants are not producing yet. Everyone will buy.
Which leads to more dealing. Why not buy off someone who is growing tax free? It would be nearly impossible to trace back where it was purchased from.
4. What illegal activity? If it is legal, there is no illegal activity! Of course you'll get people getting DUIs, etc, but all the guys in jail are there due to possession and sales. The number of offenders will be cut down dramatically.
People would still sell at below market rates, just like people any black market product.
Portugal's crime rate is down roughly 50% since decriminalizing drugs about a decade ago.
It just means people aren't being punished. Let's decriminalize murder too. Crimes rates would drop.
I'd like to point out that the DEA also wouldn't require as much funding.
Possibly, assuming that the price of weed can be sold at a price people are willing to pay. A black market could very well still exist.
I think the destruction of the drug cartels is a much bigger point than most people let on. These are some of the most violent, intrinsically evil people literally ever. Getting rid of them by legalizing Mary Jane would be the #1 pro
the us is selfish, though, and doesn't give a **** about innocent civilians in Mexico dying... If it happened in here like it does over there it would be a different debate
There's many internal issues that need to be fixed before the US can start worrying about issues on an international level.