The two arguments for MJ legalization I think are most persuasive are 1)that keeping it illegal did not mean it was unavailable, 2)and scarce tax dollars were being expended to prosecute & incarcerate offenders. In states with constitutional limits on spending, spending on MJ enforcement meant less money for everything else (k-12 Ed, hig…
The two arguments for MJ legalization I think are most persuasive are 1)that keeping it illegal did not mean it was unavailable, 2)and scarce tax dollars were being expended to prosecute & incarcerate offenders. In states with constitutional limits on spending, spending on MJ enforcement meant less money for everything else (k-12 Ed, higher Ed, incarceration of violent offenders, etc.) If the data show that legalization substantially increased it availability to underage users, that would be a point against legalization.
"keeping it illegal did not mean it was unavailable"
To understate the case! A million impromptu illicit retail franchises were founded on that particular 2nd order impact of marijuana prohibition. And that was as far back as the 1970s. A sizeable number of them went on to diversify their product lines.
The two arguments for MJ legalization I think are most persuasive are 1)that keeping it illegal did not mean it was unavailable, 2)and scarce tax dollars were being expended to prosecute & incarcerate offenders. In states with constitutional limits on spending, spending on MJ enforcement meant less money for everything else (k-12 Ed, higher Ed, incarceration of violent offenders, etc.) If the data show that legalization substantially increased it availability to underage users, that would be a point against legalization.
"keeping it illegal did not mean it was unavailable"
To understate the case! A million impromptu illicit retail franchises were founded on that particular 2nd order impact of marijuana prohibition. And that was as far back as the 1970s. A sizeable number of them went on to diversify their product lines.