Insane amounts of marijuana is smuggled across the Mexican-American border every year. Gobs of US money that should be in circulation in America is being handed over to Mexican drug lords and the United States if definitely missing out on some serious cash. America is in a recession right now and what helps a country get out of a recession? Increase in cash flow. Not only does the US miss out on the LITERALLY tons of money that could be spent to improve our economy, but drug trafficking also results in a lot of violence in the United States AND Mexico. This news clip, demonstrates the dangerous side effects of the close relationship between United States citizens and Mexican drug traffickers. An article was written in The Washington Post that evaluates the pros and cons of legalizing pot in California. If the United States were to legalize marijuana people in America would not have to resort to getting their pot from across the border. It would also decrease the amount of people smuggling substances over the border and decrease the amount of drug criminals crossing the border from Mexico and causing havoc in the United States. Right now, Mexican President Felipe Calderon is spending a lot of time and money trying to quell the drug trafficking epidemic in Mexico and if marijuana were to be made legal in America, drug cartels in Mexico would lose their power and the fighting would cease. It would be RIDICULOUSLY beneficial for the money that is currently going to Mexican drug cartels to be in the hands of the government instead of unsafe drug dealers that will do anything for money.
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ReplyDeleteI have spent a lot of time researching the legalizaiton of marijuana, and I have never thought about the amount of money we are currently sending over to Mexico. The drug wars claim many innocent American lives everyday. The situation is gruesome, however, it is also hurting our economy. I believe the next stimulus and health care plan we need to implement is marijuana. It solves all of our problems, and it's truly the answer to our problems. I would be interested to see just how much of a revenue our government could expect to see if marijuana was legalized in the US and regulated?
ReplyDeleteI just recently read an article (http://economics.about.com/od/incometaxestaxcuts/a/legalize_pot.htm) that predicted $6.2 billion in revenue annually if the US legalized and taxed marijuana similarly to alcohol and tobacco. It would also save about $7.7 billion per year that wouldn't be spent trying to enforce prohibition.
ReplyDeleteI had several friends in high school who, as soon as they got their paycheck from work, they went and blew the whole load on pot! Glad to see we now know where that money went, besides straight to their food cabinets. I like you're thinking in that the legalization would reduce crime in the United States AND help spur the economy. I guess you never really look at both sides of the story when you're thinking about it on your own. I also agree with i'mablogger in that the next stimulus and health care plan should implement maryjane. Hello? Medical Marijuana anyone? I look forward to reading the rest of your ideas on the topic!
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