Legal Marijuana Could Solve Florida’s Financial Problems
We need to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana. This would make Florida a more attractive place to live for many young, creative people who could help us move the state’s economy from its current dependence on 19th century-style “exploit and ruin the land” businesses to a sustainable, technology-based economy. We would also save billions in law enforcement and prison spending.
Legal marijuana would also make Florida an attractive retirement destination for people who suffer from chronic pain, whether as a result of cancer, diabetes-related neuralgia or any other cause.
And then there’s tourism… imagine how many tourists we’d get if, after a day of gambling or hanging out at the beach or at a Mickey park, visitors could go to a little Tiki Hut and light up a relaxing joint before going back to their hotel rooms — with each one of said joints generating $1 or so in tax revenue.
Not only that, we could run a “Buy American” campaign that would encourage residents and tourists alike to smoke or ingest “Ocala Oh!” or “Manatee Marvel” or “Sarasota Supreme,” all evocative brand names that would make it clear that “Florida Cannabis is the BEST Cannabis,” no doubt with a state-funded marketing campaign to help get the word out. (Note to self: see if Anita Bryant is available.)
So: lower police/prison costs, a new and lucrative agriculture-based industry, attract both tourists and permanent residents, and an additional source of tax revenue, all in one.
Why aren’t we considering this? Sure sounds logical to me…
PS - This was originally a response to a local newspaper article.
December 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Another very positive impact of “legalizing it” would be the hemp plant’s use as a bio-fuel. It is far, far superior to corn, soybeans, and other potential bio-fuel components. Further, the hemp seed as food offers one of the purest forms of protein in the natural world. The list goes on and on. Selling a personal cultivation license is also a great idea. Ultimately, we have to break the Darth Vader-like stranglehold that corporations have over people and government before we can start making sense with marijuana policies.
December 13th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Yeah man, we need to legulize that stuff… It seems like a million years sin ce this discussion last came up, and I hope our fashist congress men listen to us now. We can change them, man! We can get them to…. wait… What are we talking about again?
December 14th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
i never even considered the retirement one. good argument. florida a place to retire for chronic pained people b/c they can toke marijuana. the tourism is also dead on. i do a weed walking tour in Toronto where marijuana isn’t a police priority. they have a few bring your own cannabis cafes, thus a guide is good for americans. there’s a big financial boom here. like legalized gambling. lastly people should be allowed to make individual choices.
December 21st, 2008 at 11:55 am
One item missing in your piece Roblimo…..
Just dropping the persecution of users/growers would save the state untold millions in drug enforcement!
This idea is way overdue….why is mary jane illegal, and smoking/drinking are not? The weed does little if any harm to people, and smoking/drinking cost us billions.
Duke
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm
There are a number of industrial processes that would benefit from the use of hemp. My only familiarity with societies where legalization has happened is limited to the Netherlands and the brown cafe’s where too you can see brands marketed, and certainly a healthy bump in their tourism industry.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:11 am
I think that would be a good idea, but I always wandered if legalizing weed would lower alcohol sales? If they do legalize weed it would be great! There has to be some reason marijuana is illegal. I mean think about it, alcohol is way more dangerous, kills way more people and its just a pure demon. Marijuana is very harmless? What is the big deal here?
Hawaiian Haze
April 10th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I keep hearing that weed is not legal because people will grow it and the gov can’t tax it. Why not have grow permits? You are allowed to grow up to 5 plants for every $100 permit, limit it to a max of 15 plants total and anything above or anyone with out a permit would be fined $500 1st offense, $1000 for second and arrest for anything above. I see it the same as a home brewer of beer. You can brew a small amount but you are not allowed to brew vats of moonshine with out a permit.
I am a former smoker who stopped due to the fear of losing my job and getting arrested. I think it’s insane that Tobacco and Beer are legal, both of which I do not do, but weed is still illegal. I am would love to legally light up one day with out the fear of losing my house and job! I would be willing to pay a small tax just as others do on beer etc. It’s also ironic that you can get prescription drugs such as Oxy legally or Valium, but pot is still illegal!
P.s. Weed is not the gateway drug… Tobacco is!