Democratic debates

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I tend to put more emphasis on the things that kill people and the things that prevent people from having the opportunity to live a healthy and happy life. Little things, like ISIS, Putin, healthcare, climate, and policies regarding taxes and trade. But who cares about that, let's all toke up!

drug deals/drug violence kill more americans than isis or putin. legalization increases revenue, lowers jail populations, and results in harm reduction by removing it as a grey/black market item with no legal framework for oversight or regulation.

not saying that it's the end all/be all, but it is a practical/pragmatic solution. like prohibition, making it illegal really hasn't done much to slow the demand.


as for taxes, the US gets a much larger share of it's revenue through income taxes compared to most countries, which rely more heavily on consumption/service taxes instead, which is why there's always so much hand wringing about it.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by That Guy

drug deals/drug violence kill more americans than isis or putin. legalization increases revenue, lowers jail populations, and results in harm reduction by removing it as a grey/black market item with no legal framework for oversight or regulation.

not saying that it's the end all/be all, but it is a practical/pragmatic solution. like prohibition, making it illegal really hasn't done much to slow the demand.


as for taxes, the US gets a much larger share of it's revenue through income taxes compared to most countries, which rely more heavily on consumption/service taxes instead, which is why there's always so much hand wringing about it.

I feel like I'm having a coversation with a bunch of stoners. Eye on the ball, That Guy. Most drug deaths and violence is not tied to weed, it's tied to narcotics. And nobody in their right mind would suggest it's in the best interests of society to legalize heroin or cocaine because of the explosive addictive nature combined with major health and death risk.

Legalizing marijuana will not reduce drug related deaths significantly. Legalizing narcotics would trade criminal drug deaths for many many more overdose deaths.