Thread: Obama goes after State dispensaries.

Originally Posted by SoySoldier

I dunno man, you are speculating that they will base the free market price on what the black market price is now. Seems to go against what we learned in introductory level economics. Like I said, the consumer price is cheaper here now due to the partial legalization of production. I offer a real world example; and there are examples offered by the history of prohibition. Further it reinforced by economic theory...

You can speculate all you want, but the empirical record disagrees. That's all I can really say about that.



As far as where the money "saved" moves to is up to who knows...

I'm left with no option but to speculate. I know i've been in the business world along time and as such i know they will charge the highest price they think they can get away with. They'll even take into consideration the two options of pay a bit more or buy it illegally.

Realistically intro level economics does not truely apply to the real world. When your talking pens and paper sure but not when you apply it to regulated goods. Take a look at medication, fuel, health care, tobacco, and alcohol. The demand is there for all of them. The product is there is massive supply and yet all of them are priced high to the point that some can not spare the funds to purchase them. So higher supply does not always equal lower price.

You guys can offer the prohabition all you want but the world is a much different place since then.

Originally Posted by CivilWars

Compare it to cigs. They are taxed out the ass, yet how many stories do you hear about someone growing tobacco in their basement to sell on the black market? How many stories do you hear about tobacco cartels killing people in the streets? Why is it that even with heavy taxation we don't have these instances with tobacco or alcohol? That leads me to believe that even with all of the heavy taxation it is still cheaper than the overall cost there would be to manufacture and distribute it illegally.

Man charged in biggest tobacco bust in province; Second arrest for same offence this year - Justice - The Western Star
Quebec police make huge tobacco bust
Tobacco bust nets millions in fake tax stamps - US news - Crime & courts - msnbc.com
2 charged in illegal tobacco bust - Manitoba - CBC News
Hampton police bust businesses suspected of illegal cigarette sales | Smokers Info
| NBC Washington
10 arrests in massive tobacco bust - The Cornwall Standard Freeholder - Ontario, CA
CorpWatch : USA: Big Tobacco Busted Again
Contraband tobacco busts snare three people - St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Region, Sun Media - Ontario, CA


Feel better knowing it happens?

Originally Posted by CivilWars

I never stated it doesn't happen. Seeing that you have to pull a few stories from Canada to prove your point simply proves mine that while it may happen it is NOWHERE near the issue that the current drug cartels are.

I just copy and pasted the link. It didnt really matter to me where they were from so i didnt look. I agree it isnt the same type of problem but alot of that is because of the current situational difference between the two.

Originally Posted by CivilWars

Exactly, the difference being MJ is illegal, and alcohol and tobacco are both legal. I would bet that if we were to make alcohol illegal then we would see the same black market for it that we see for MJ...oh wait...we did, and we did.

Very simplistic perspective. Your arguement went from we would make a profit to what the crimes related to it are. We CURRENTLY have a black market for both items you listed. Now why would the mj problem go away as you suggested it would be making it legal? The answer is it wont and you know it. The market has been cornered already and taxing a legal version isn't going to have as big of an effect as your suggesting. A prime example of that id all legal forms of narcotics currently in use in this country. Let me know when that goes away. At that point in time you may be right.

Originally Posted by CivilWars

Why would it go away? Hmmm. Well, since there is such a huge black market for cigs then why do you, and millions of others, go to the local gas station, grocery store, or wherever every day to buy them? Because MOST people will choose to buy from a legit retailer if the product is available as opposed to buying it from some shady dealer. Does that mean it will stop every problem ever associated with it? Of course not.

Here is a very simplistic look at it:
Do drug cartels have more power if it is legal or illegal?
Do we collect more tax money if it is legal or illegal?
Do we pay more to police and prison systems if it is legal or illegal?

In my opinion the answer to all of those is if it is legal. Does that mean it will happen overnight? No, I am not that naive. I don't partake, and won't even if it is legal. I also don't smoke tobacco, but I am not even a proponent of the no smoking in public laws. To me it just makes sense on all fronts.

You think legalising it will remove powers from the cartels? LOL hell no. They aren't going to pack up just because something became legal. They might and i stress might lower their price because in the end you can not compete with someone that has 0 overhead. Check illegals for your proof on that.

Would we really collect more money on taxes? Maybe unforseen at this point because it costs money to regulate as well.

Would we pay more to police and prison systems? No to police. They make the same check now they would afterward. Prisons are a joke to begin with. Fix that bs and you'll save more right off the bat. As for them being lockup on those charges well thats their own fucking fault. Odds are it will still be illegal to sell and buy on the corners so probably wont save anything. One sure way is to not break the law. Quit being a fucking douche and then complaining its someone elses fault you broke the law.

You dont get rid of laws just because we have retards. What you do is put in wheel chair ramps for their retarded ass.

Originally Posted by CivilWars

You are right, what we are doing now is working so well. Glad you could educate me. Have fun talking in circles alone.

Quiter