Hey Stoners

sorry about the twinkies... I couldn't help myself.

Just a quickie here. A recent survey reported that over 83 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. and, over 12 million had used the drug in the month before the survey.

I figure another 12 million would probably take a toke now and again if it were legal. I am sure that if it were legal, they could sell a minimum of 24,000,000 packs of doobies every month. Most people would gladly pay $35.00 for a pack of really good weed. If the cost and profit for the tobacco companies were $5.00, and the rest were tax, that would be $8.6 billion per year in revenue. That is enough to nearly pay for a national health care plan.

Well at least they got a job which is better than some...lol

MOST people would gladly pay $35.00 for a pack of really good weed????????? Are you sure about that ol hippie? LOL You must be joking. I wouldn't pay a nickle for it. Of course, I'm not most people, I am only one person. I agree we need a national health care plan, but there must be a better way to fund it than by selling weed! :)

Well GD, to quote Ron Reagan, "There ya go again." assuming this is about you. It's not. I clearly said that I believe they could sell at least 24,000,000 packs a month. That would mean that 276,000,000 people would not buy any; see, you are one of that group.

I am a pragmatist. 12,000,000 people currently smoke dope, and pay no taxes on it. They are not going to stop, so like alcohol, and cigarettes it should be taxed.

FYI, smiley faces at the end of a reprimand, are passive aggresasive.

You raise a valid point olHippie. The problem lies in the fact that anyone can grow their own weed. It's easy. Grow, cut, trim and dry.

With tobacco, it must be shredded, sorted and cured. This is way beyond what most anyone would be willing to do for their tobacco. It's a pain in the ass that's best left for tobacco companies.

Weed on the other hand is much easier to deal with. The Government and Big corporations would not be able to sell as much herb as they do tobacco, therefore not getting the taxes on it. They would also be able to control growth and distribution about as good as they can now.

However.... A good portion of your estimated 12,000,000 people would take the easy way out and just purchase their smoke all ready to go... no fuss, no muss.

It's a good plan, to legalize and distribute. I just never see it happening in your country.

PLUS.... once the Government get's involved, you just know it's going to be dirt weed! Weak and useless! I know this for fact, our Government tried it's hand at growing medicinal weed, and most of it was returned for being useless and weak. They have actually brought in growers that have been busted with huge grow ops to show them how to do it right!

Interesting direction for this list...I lika you (it).

While doing a little research for this list I found sites that expound upon all of the detrimental aspects of marijuana AND sites that say those are lies the government wants us to believe. It's so hard to get to the truth.

A respected doctor friend has said that he thinks marijuana use is better than alcohol use in regard to negative impact on the human body.

I'm so out of touch and it's all just so confusing...

I respectifully disagree raantman. I believe the same percentage of users would continue to grow weed, as those who make their own moonshine. Once it is legal and taxed, then growing your own becomes; a)more work than is necessary to get high, and b) tax evasion. Maybe they would make an updated version of the Robert Michum classic, Thunder Road. Anybody? Thunder Road?

"And there was thunder, thunder over Thunder Road
Thunder was his engine, and white lightning was his load
There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the Devil’s thirst
The law they swore they'd get him, but the Devil got him first."

As to the quality, well, once word gets out that Marlboro Lite Blunts have 40% more THC than the competition, they'll all come around. Quality and choices will improve in an amazingly short time. There would be lite weed, robust weed, stoner 100s, Virginia Slim 120s for the ladies, and Kool menthol weed for the inner cities. There would be weed snobs who rated it, and analyzed the characteristics; "A pleasant toke, with just a hint of raspberry, and none of the post high bloated head feeling common to other light Australian dope." You think ciger experts are annoying?

The same percentage would abuse it as abuse liquor, or any other drug.

Good points olHippie. But since when did tax evasion ever bother the general population. There are a lot of people who work "under the table". I'm not saying that's right, i'm just saying it happens.

Hopefully Marlboro Lite Blunts would have more flavor than actual Marlboro's! But the government would regulate the amount of THC in the weed just like they regulate the amount of alcohol is in our beverages. It would be weak stuff. An open market would create better choices, but it's hard to pick froma collection of crap when it's ALL crap. Like moonshine, if you want something rugged.... you go black market. (although why would someone buy moonshine instead of Bacardi 151?!?)

With legalization, the number of growers would drop. But there is still a market in other countries to supply. And I can't envision the government getting into weed smuggling, they have their hands full with the weapons of mass destruction stuff :)

"You think ciger experts are annoying?" - yes, but not as annoying as weed aficionados. I've been to Amsterdam.... they won't shut up about the weeds bouquet, robust character, etc.......