From CNN:
Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron disagrees:
In a statement that's sure to disappoint many of those who submitted questions to President Obama's virtual town hall meeting, the president made clear Thursday he does not support legalizing marijuana as a means to spur economic growth.(H/t: N.S. Gill)
Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron disagrees:
The U.S. repealed Prohibition of alcohol at the height of the Great Depression, in part because of increasing violence and in part because of diminishing tax revenues. Similar concerns apply today...My views on the economics of marijuana legalization have been well-known for some time. Not surprisingly, I side with the economists, not the politicians.
Comments
Yeah, this is kinda a no-brainer. Particularly in Canada, where the government already owns all the liquor stores, where implementing it would consequently be a lot easier. Not advocating government running a booze monopoly, but given that they are, the mechanics of implementation are a lot simpler.
Misleading title though. I’m on your side but Obama never says he thinks legalizing would not help the economy, only that he doesn’t support this policy action as a means to do so.
@Cam
Actually, I believe it is CNN’s summary that is misleading. Here is what Obama said: “The answer is no, I do not think that is a good strategy to grow our economy.”
I’m for legalization. Like Andrew said, it’s a no-brainer.
But, if they do legalize it they will need to enforce restrictions. I think similar restrictions to alcohol should be applied. You can’t drive if intoxicated and you can’t carry openly in the public.
Personally legalizing Marijuana would open the floodgates of drug abuse in the U.S. The primary source of marijuana comes from South America anyway, so they would have an immediate head start on the industry. Not to mention the long term effects this will have on American producton, as amotivational syndome is proven result of marijuana use.
Timothy: Carrying openly in public is legal in some jurisdictions (New Orleans, Las Vegas, etc.)
No-brainer? Are you kidding?
America is killing its youth.
@Bennett – yes, but generally speaking, we use alcohol and cigarettes for that.
With my vote to elect Obama Iwas sure he would be the one to put this issue on the table and stop theinsane laws that clog our prisons with people who use marijuana and let out the ones that do some of the most violent crimes you could think of and make room for a person who got cought with a little weed .Im 58 years old and have used pot my whole adult life I also have spent time for using weed and still I use it not only for medical just because I enjoy it
i agree with eric t although i havent used marijuana since i was 18 and i am now 27 but its all true the prisons are all clogged with inmates who were charged with possession of marijuana when i think prison should be used for inmates who murder or rape or bigger charges but not for marijuana…..and i also think marijuana does not have major health issues……..its not like its killing anyone….ive never heard of an overdose or like with drunk drivers it doesnt kill anyone if u toke and drive am i right….all of these commercials are very misleading about marijuana….if this wasnt gods way then why is there marijuana?? ive seen it just grow on its own and no chemicals added but gods green earth and water so basically yes i do think marijuana should be legalized already because i think it would make our economy a lot better……i am against alcohol but i am for marijuana……..in god we trust!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You for your common sense! Prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are where the real scary statistics are. Naturally, these companies would want us to be scared of pot because they don’t want the competition. Oh yea, our economy could use the help of tax dollars and even create extra jobs right about now!
legalizing marijuana will not help us earn money its going to cause problem with economy and the people on the streets might even start riots with the economy because we wont be making more money we will be making less. but then again i mean it doesn’t make sense and its just not fair to us as we the people.
I think legalising Marijuana would be better for everyone i mean alcohol is legal and it kills people 3 times faster then smoking Marijuana would and cigarettes kill people too. There has been millions even billions of people have died because of alcohol and tobacco. You haven’t once heard about Marijuana killing anyone and if you have well then put it up and then maybe well see how bad it is but till then Marijuana is safe for now.
Obama’s an asshole. I’m really sorry I voted for him now. Since he’s become president we’ve lost more freedoms than we’ve gained. The feds are cracking down on gambling and tobacco, and now it appears there’s no hope of getting marijuana laws loosened. America is becoming a less free country by the day.
@ Don are u kidding me america has never been free and the goverment is planing to get the earth down to 2 billion people so it would be easier to control the signs are every where like that creepy airport and all those feema caskets
I am for legalizing marijuana because i don’t think it is as bad as all drugs that are legal today yes i have smoked marijuana, but what i am getting at besides the billions of dollars we could make just selling marijuana and the fact that people could start growing hemp again which can be used to make too many things to list but here’s some Rope,clothing,fuel,paper,insulation,concrete,food,
wood chips,plastic,cotton,animal bedding,feed,oil,cars,and board selling all this plus marijuana and making new jobs for people to make these products and sell marijuana I’m sure would help the economy a lot and about health risks from marijuana some will say that it cause dependence, lung obstruction, short term memory loss, and more car wrecks would happen.
First i do think there is a little bit of dependence but its not near as bad as alcohol dependence and it is legal, the lung obstruction thing is a choice you don’t have to smoke it you can eat it or vaporize it, the short term memory loss from marijuana is temporary, and the more car wrecks if it were legal i think it should be just like alcohol you cannot be intoxicated while driving.
Thanks just getting my point of view out there.
i agree with qwert, i mean even if they say that it causes lung problems, you can choose not to smoke it people!! Thats not the only use of marijuana(although its a good one) and people should be more open minded about this topic. It would even help pollution by cutting back on the use of plastic and other artificial materials.
Well I am for legalizing Marijuana. I have no problem with anyone smoking it. I am 13 years old and i am writing an essay. Marijuana can help us with money and police should stop arresting people for using Marjiuana. They should arrest the people that actually need to be there so prisons wouldn’t be so crowded. I said LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
I think that marijuana should be legalized because what does it hurt i mean some people might use it the wrong ways but if people could grow up we all could have some