I agree with bufoman, I dont think the prices would go up. Its kind of similiar to the street prices here in the uk as it is in holland but there stuff is much better quality and it works there, really isnt a big deal, actually makes them lots of money. The idea of you get to hang out with your dealer instead of going to a shop then home by yourself is just a ridiculous angle!

Oh and as a sidenote is there any chance you could leave spaces in your texts bufoman I find it hard to read big blocks like that, puts me off reading peoples posts, cheers.

Regarding the US gov making money off of marijuana... It is not the US government that grows that much marijuana but the american people who do. It is the 2nd cash crop in the US and it is illegal. The US government has a small supply which it selectively gives out for research. this is one of the reasons it so hard to do research with marijuana in the US is because the government has to supply it and they only give it to people who want to show harmful effect. Also there are only a few government medical marijuana patients. You must have misunderstood the statistics. The US government does make a lot of money off of marijuana being illegal. The drug war is a huge money making industry and marijuana is one of there big cash makers because so many people use it. But it is the american people who have to pay the bill and if it were legal we would not only save that money but generate more form taxation.

hahha yea I didn't notice that. I thought it was 69ron. Thats why I was shocked I didn't picture him saying such a thing. I wonder if I have done that other times...???

Reguardless of how people use it, it is still going to be taxed the shit out of, because If it were put in stores and legalized, we would be the only country that we would be able to get it from because it is not legal anywhere else in the world ( do not test me on that last sentence because you will get pwned) and we would not be able to import it so we would open up our grow fields and sell it with extremely high taxes. It is common sense , and if and when it becomes legal you will see how much your plan will fall apart and hello to massive illegal grow operations and the black market!

I second that

I love reading your posts, bufo, but sometimes it takes effort to decode text blocks

you still dont consider the fact that everyone could grow. Its not like food crops that one needs a big area to satisfy one's need, a couple of plants grown in someone's appartment can yield a lot. Its also not like alcohol where one needs to brew and maybe distil (even though those who do it seem to say its very easy). Everyone can grow a plant. With no monopoly and big availability, the prices cannot go up

btw, also you say that usa would be the only place where its legal, but obviously there would be repercussions and USA would have a big influence on the UN and on the general attitude towards drugs. It could lead a world-wide sane (or at least a bit saner) drug policy

If the supply goes up the price goes down, this is economics 101. Even with taxation, look at alcohol during prohibition. The price is always going to be higher. You obviously don't understand economics or logic. Your statements are ridiculous and unfounded. It is not common sense. Everyone knows that prohibition drives up the prices. Even the cops admit this as they think it is a good thing.

My plan? If it were regulated (legal) there would not be illegal grow operations. Do you hear your self/ If it were legal people would grow it illegally? It could be sold like alcohol there would be regulations but it would not be just the government controlling the supply. Where are you getting this from? look at history buddy these things were legal a lot longer than they were illegal it is not my plan it is the way it was and will be in the future. Prohibition is a failure, in every which way.

Furthermore as stated you would be able to produce your own (growing). this would ensure that the prices were resonable as there would be competition. Other countries would follow very quickly as well. The US is very influential on world drug politics. and marijuana is decriminalized in a lot of countries go do some research maybe. You are making statements that go against all logic on the subject and give no reason to back them up.

There is nothing shamefull with being wrong about something. People are wrong all the time, it doesn't mean you are stupid, just misinformed. It takes intelligence to admit when you are wrong.

I am always the biggest critics of my own thoughts, that way I analyze them to the point where I know why I believe what I do. I used to argue points with people, things I thought were true but when I asked my self why I thought they were true many times it was some bullshit I learned form imprinting on TV, a movie or someone told me. You need to look into things your self. Read, read read and always read all theories or views on a particular point that way you know both sides of the argument.

All I know is that my nugs aren't going anywhere... Legal or Illegal

But with legalization what would be the point to make it legal if you can grow it! the government cannot tax it! Thus leading to an oligopoly of only certain people "allowed" to grow and distribute, other than that its is just like alcohol. we cannot brew our own but we can buy it

Im not worried about money.

& i know people would pay for it just like gas or cigaretts, but then again maybe not cause its nott like you NEED it.

Pot would shape our society, most people have never tryed it & wouldnt all because its illegal.
& all the hype around it, gateway drug ect.

They don't want it legal because it would take the world in a far different direction than were they want us to be.
& i think it would open the door to psycedelics to & we all know why they don't want us to have those.
They don't want us to think for ourselves!

Good point.

Isnt tobacco growing illegal? hahahaa

Sorry but you are not well informed about this subject at all. You are absolutely 100% allowed to brew your own alcohol in america for personal use. You need a license only to sell it to others but not to drink it yourself and give it away. SWIM knows plenty of people who do this legally. Pot would be exactly the same. Plus there are many small breweries, and distillers.

Also you can grow tobacco without any trouble. It is not that the government controls all breweries and distillers. They just regulate them to ensure they are done safely this is a good thing.

People have this mistaken view of why marijuana is illegal. Marijuana is not illegal because the government is worried that they can't tax it, it is illegal because the government is making billions of dollars off of prohibition and they don't want to lose there jobs. Many different companies profit because marijuana is illegal, they don't want to loss this profit. Even if they couldn't tax it (which they could tax it b/c just like alc most people would just buy it anyway) they would still save billions that are used to enforce prohibition. It has to do with making money off the current situation.

Yeah we're definitely allowed to brew beer, we just can't sell that brew. I'm pretty confident that my nug dealer would stay in business regardless of legalization. Just like beer, you would have megacorporate, poor quality bud (lets call it shwag basically), and then you'd have local microgroweries (lack of better term), which already exist (you visit or support one every time you buy a bag). They'd stay in business, undoubtedly, regardless of required licenses etc... They obviously can''t crack down on grow ops any more than they do currently because they are already trying their hardest

Yeah, I think the laws in many countries about alcohol are similar. Beer and wine are OK but distilling is forbidden in most countries. There are some exceptions, in France you're allowed to distill your own fermented fruits but correct me if I'm wrong. It's all about tax, tax, tax.

Imho total legalization is inevitable in the long run, but how long? In Holland things are going backwards, mushrooms were banned a while ago. (heh, started growing again from some spores many years old)

It's not just the MJ, it's also the low-THC hemp plant that's suffering from this crazy ban. The best fibers nature has to offer, nutritious seeds and oil: it's a great farm crop. Prison guards should be growing hemp instead of guarding MJ offenders - much more productive! Maybe simple economics will speed things up, who knows. It seems prison sentences for drugs offenses are already being shortened for economic reasons.

Sorry if I'm rambling - stoned

Well the drug-war didn't make it illegal, though the money involved is likely what's keeping it illegal. It was primarily religious fundamentalists that pushed for the prohibition of most of the the big-name drugs. They were also largely responsible for the prohibition of alcohol (as marijuana was prohibited alongside it). The only reason prohibition wasn't lifted on marijuana at the time was partly because it wasn't very popular and also because its prohibition wasn't marked by violent crime the way alcohol was (ironic, huh?).

wasnt a whole story of marijuana prohibition in usa to do with the mexican immigrants and so on?

Yea. It was really a way to persecute specific ethnic groups. The media basically scared people using racism to make most of these drugs illegal. I wish we could just review this evidence in court today. How funny would that be.

Obviously as previously stated by bufo is that if supply goes up,$ goes down. Although i think if they changed the policy it would be decriminalization not full legallization and you couldn't cultivate or possess more than a certain amount, at any time.

I definately share the same sentiments and ideals as bufo, regarding full legalization and the rediculous topic of it taking away from the the ritual of buying from a stoner buddy/dealer and hangin out to play videogames....personally i like to sit at home and play music when i'm high (thats just me).

I must admit though, i have become disenchanted enough with u.s policy and our govt. to believe they wouldn't try to capitilize off of the situation through "regulation monopolization" or implementing some sort of tax structure (which would be ridiculous).

- Marijuana is not the U.S's biggest agriculteral export which attracts foreign revenue. I agree that it is a cash crop for many local counties within the united states but its mainly $ tht circulates within the U.S.

Compare that to :

-How many people are incarcerated due to mj possession?.... some doing obsenely big sentence's.How much $ does that cost the taxpayer?.... especially when that $ is MUCH needed elsewhere.

Infinite 1 - Obama was put into office through the democratic process (votes) he wan't put there by the puppett master...or the global occult,and i guess that may be why it seems Americans are overly optimistic... plus it's our first "half" African American leader which is also a very emotional thing for many the have been put through slavery and up untill the civil rights movement.

He isnt a hero by any means ( he's a politician) but he does have the gift of bringing people together. If the global elite were to ever go down..ya know the "puppettmasters", it would have to be done by "We The People" and we will need someone that can bring "us" together.If his intentions are true, "they" probably wont let him live, and if that were to happen... you could very well see a revolution.

I think Obama is well oware of the role he play's and knows that he is not the man behind the curtain.I do have hope that he means what he sais and that he is learning to keep his friends close and his enemies closer (my favorite line from the "Godfather" and will improve our foreign relations and improving our current situation.He's not the second coming of christ but he is a breadth of fresh air...which offers a little hope (atleast for me).I'm tired of living in an evil empire version of a democracy.

With all of this in cosideration... the decriminalization of MJ is just one small thing.If our country can change..to where we now have an African American President, i don't think decriminalization MJ is that much of a stretch anymore.

I agree with you. Well stated.