Going Green – Why We Should Legalize It (Infographic

[kpete]

Going Green – Why We Should Legalize It (Infographic)
By Greg Voakes

Many issues in America faced an uphill battle at the turn of the century, and several unresolved ones still do. From gay marriage to medical marijuana, there are thousands of individuals pushing to change current legislation and fully progress into the new millennium. The infographic below actually outlines some of the reasons why America should go green – for marijuana legalization.

With a floundering economy, it’s hard to pass up the financial benefits of legalizing the green stuff. The number one cash crop in the United States – marijuana – is unregulated, untaxed, and prohibiting it costs the U.S. $7.7 billion each year. If we were to legalize it, we would not only save that $7.7 billion, but also gain $6.2 billion on marijuana tax revenues, and another $7 billion on a variety of cannabis shops, natural medical products, and more.

Since the war on drugs began in the 1960’s, it hasn’t made much of a long-term impact on drug use for teens and adolescents. Twelfth grade drug usage has hovered around 40% for decades, and teens between the ages of 12 and 17 say that it is easier to get marijuana than cigarettes, beer, or prescription drugs. A national study found that 40% of teens could get marijuana within a day, and 25% said they could get it within an hour. It seems like legal, regulated substances are a lot easier to control, and a lot harder to obtain, than illegal ones. Check out the infographic below for more details:


http://donklephant.com/2012/04/11/going-green-why-we-should-legalize-it-infographic/#more-22696

[Egalitarian Thug]

1. The fact that this plant is still unlawful after 16 states and a majority

of the citizens disagree is one of the surest signs that we live under something other than a democracy. There is no controversy, there is no debate, there is no reason other than that a few people that matter far more than you and I want it this way.

[Fumesucker]

2. You don't understand..

Obama knows the misery of drug addiction first hand, imagine how far he could have risen in life if he had been busted and then gotten the proper treatment for his drug abuse instead of white knuckling it for a decade or two..

The president just wants to save us from the hopelessness that he knows all too well from painful personal experience, we should learn from his example and turn ourselves in so we don't end up like him.

Alcohol is legal, good for you and everyone likes it, why is that not enough?

[Taverner]

4. Are you serious?

Really?

[Fumesucker]

5. Either my hypothesis is correct..

Or Obama is a world class hypocrite on this subject.

You decide..

[Taverner]

6. I am a potsmoker. I know potsmokers.

We are lawyers, doctors, professors, managers and leaders.

We are authors, filmmakers and actors.

We are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Atheists.

We are all around you.

I have been addicted to real addictive drugs - Marijuana doesn't even come CLOSE.

This is the "good drug," unless you think all drugs are bad.

And if that is the case, stop taking aspirin, Tylenol, CAFFEINE, Sudafed, Actifed, Ibuprofen, or any other OTC med.

If you can't, then guess what, you are a drug user.

Not all drugs are created equal.

[Taverner]

3. The only reason Marijuana isn't legal is because they aren't stamped with 'Pfizer' on them!

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[bluerum]

8. I can testify firsthand thar pot

relieves the nausea and dizzyness caused by chemo treatments.

[Bruce Wayne]

9. Wait, pot is "green"? I thought environmentalism was green. Oy!

This reminds me of back in the 60s when the gays and the effete intellectual snobs fought over who got to have pink. Spoiler alert: apparently it isn't very difficult to beat up effete intellectual snobs and wrest control of their color from them. Now they're stuck with being called "mauve-o's" cause nobody was using mauve.




Ha ha, it just occurred to me. They're now "married to the mauve" -->

[kestrel91316]

10. Follow the CA and CO models, enforce the restrictions on age, and

limit producers to 99 plants. Keep production in the hands of micro-producers who are members of the medical collectives, and are medical patients themselves. Don't let outside parties profit from suffering when there is no need for it.

IOW, KEEP THE BIG CORPORATIONS OUT OF IT.

If we fully legalize it and regulate it like beer and wine, there will be no way for the little guy with his/her fabulous organic homegrown to market a superior product.

Buy local? Check. Support small business? Check. Help end suffering without enriching the 1%? EFFIN' CHECK.

Oh, and totally decriminalize it for non-patients: $25 fine and no possibility of jail.