3 Reasons to Legalize Pot Now!

As the United States enters its 72nd year of marijuana prohibition, it's time to consider legalizing pot for at least three reasons:

1. The tax revenue and law enforcement savings. A 2005 cost-benefit analysis done by Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron found that legalizing marijuana and taxing it similar to alcohol would generate over $6 billion in new revenue and save nearly $8 billion in direct law enforcement costs. Pot is already the biggest cash crop in many states; bringing it into the open market would pump all sorts of energy into the economy.

2. It's going to happen anyway, so why delay the inevitable? Increasing numbers of Americans realize that pot prohibition is an ineffective and costly policy. A 2009 poll by Zogby found that 52 percent of Americans agreed that marijuana should be taxed and regulated like booze. A Field Poll last year of California residents, who will vote on a legalization ballot initiative in the fall, found that 56 percent wanted legalization. Other polls show historically high percentages favoring legalization. In a world of busted budgets, it's crystal clear that spending time and energy policing marijuana is not worth it.

3. Keep Your Laws Off Our Bodies. Never mind that by virtually every measure, pot is safer and less than disruptive than booze. Pot prohibition in the 1930s was the result of hysteria, not serious threats to society. We own our bodies and should be free to eat, drink, and smoke what we want. And to take responsibility for our actions, whether we're straight or we're stoned.

Approximately 1.07 minutes long. Written and produced by Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie, who also hosts.

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[Grimnir9]

Just eliminate government. 

[TheCircusfreak777]

Man my government is full of tools and self rightous idiots!

[damaster816]

LEGIZE IT, BECUASE THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO RIGHT TELIING ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY BODY

[gmjothiramesh]

Im 11 and FUCK Yeh legalize marjiuana but we can be able to smoke anything though meth is 2 effective

[808ganjaboi]

Legal or not ima smoke ganja everyday haha but it wuld be a lot better legal!!! XD

[artmv11]

Since alcohol and tobacco are both legal substances, the health pros and cons of pot relative to it's legality is moot point. It comes down to a matter of the preferential legislation, tainted public perception, and infringement on personal liberties. If it was legal, people still wouldn't be obligated to use it, as some seem to fear, and in fact, minors would likely likely have less access. Dealers don't check for ID's.

[Millsie18]

@Tinyjb0 Think about this, how many people are going drunk to school? Remember with a legal market under 18yo (or 21+) Won't be able to get weed, unlike now which any under 18yo person can go up to a dealer and come back with weed. Your are correct, there will be DUIs but most pot smokers are safer drivers than drunk drivers. However driving under any major influence is just plain stupid. Oh and heavy pot smokes are much easier to deal with then heavy alcoholics..

[Tinyjb0]

@Millsie18 Ok, you beat me on that one. But let me tell you this. Think of how many DUIs there will be, and how many more people will be doing pot in highschool? There may not be deaths from doing it, but the duis will be sky high. 

[Millsie18]

@Tinyjb0 Sorry, but you must have missed MrHopkin's comment... The brain actually already has receptors that absorb the THC (and other chemicals). We actually create a small amount of THC-like compounds in our brain already. Now, since most damage from pot is from smoking it why don't you just vape or eat the pot? Sameish effect with no harm at all. You just can't die from pot, ever. However thousands die from caffeine and alcohol each year.

[Tinyjb0]

@Millsie18 Why do you think marijuana makes you feel high? It messes with and kills your brain cells, similar to what cocaine does to you, but not as deadly. I dont know what the fuck you are talking about when you say marijuana does not harm you... Anything but the air we breathe around us is bad for us, our lungs, our overall being. And by the way, i never said tabacco is better than pot, because its not. Both are terrible for you.

[Millsie18]

@Tinyjb0 Tobacco is grown with radio-active fertilizers which makes the plant overly deadly plus more addictive than pot as well. (In America 1/3 People who try smoking continue smoking. 1/10 Is the amount of people who return to Marijuana after smoking it. Marijuana has never had a death, not once. Roughly 400,000 People die of Tobacco each year...

[Millsie18]

@MrHopkinz420 :) Thanks for being knowledgeable, its nice to see someone who knows their stuff.