What's the future of the marijuana industry?

[bryant.coleman]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

[koshgel]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

[niothor]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

[koshgel]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Pretty sure Portugal legalized ALL drugs, and they have only seen positive results.

What are the negative aspects of this? Illegality leads to impure forms of cocaine and even crack cocaine. Not to mention that massive waste of tax dollars that goes to the failed war on drugs.

[niothor]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Pretty sure Portugal legalized ALL drugs, and they have only seen positive results.

What are the negative aspects of this? Illegality leads to impure forms of cocaine and even crack cocaine. Not to mention that massive waste of tax dollars that goes to the failed war on drugs.

The drug policy of Portugal was put in place in 2000, and was legally effective from July 2001. The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense was changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one if the amount possessed was no more than ten days' supply of that substance

Every year, Portuguese law enforcement bodies confiscate several tonnes of cocaine, with a record amount of more than 34.5 tonnes seized in 2006. A regular increase in quantities of cannabis resin seized could also be observed over recent years, though there has been a recent decline between 2008 (61 tonnes) and 2009 (23 tonnes)

[koshgel]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Pretty sure Portugal legalized ALL drugs, and they have only seen positive results.

What are the negative aspects of this? Illegality leads to impure forms of cocaine and even crack cocaine. Not to mention that massive waste of tax dollars that goes to the failed war on drugs.

The drug policy of Portugal was put in place in 2000, and was legally effective from July 2001. The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense was changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one if the amount possessed was no more than ten days' supply of that substance

Every year, Portuguese law enforcement bodies confiscate several tonnes of cocaine, with a record amount of more than 34.5 tonnes seized in 2006. A regular increase in quantities of cannabis resin seized could also be observed over recent years, though there has been a recent decline between 2008 (61 tonnes) and 2009 (23 tonnes)

Not really seeing any negatives.

Isn't it true that addiction has decreased in Portugal?

The same action here in the US would slash a huge portion of the Mexican cartel's income. Also, our jails wouldn't be so overpopulated with non-violent drug offenders

[niothor]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income.  

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Pretty sure Portugal legalized ALL drugs, and they have only seen positive results.

What are the negative aspects of this? Illegality leads to impure forms of cocaine and even crack cocaine. Not to mention that massive waste of tax dollars that goes to the failed war on drugs.

The drug policy of Portugal was put in place in 2000, and was legally effective from July 2001. The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense was changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one if the amount possessed was no more than ten days' supply of that substance

Every year, Portuguese law enforcement bodies confiscate several tonnes of cocaine, with a record amount of more than 34.5 tonnes seized in 2006. A regular increase in quantities of cannabis resin seized could also be observed over recent years, though there has been a recent decline between 2008 (61 tonnes) and 2009 (23 tonnes)

Not really seeing any negatives.

Isn't it true that addiction has decreased in Portugal?

The same action here in the US would slash a huge portion of the Mexican cartel's income. Also, our jails wouldn't be so overpopulated with non-violent drug offenders

Drugs , any kind of drugs are illegal in Portugal. You claimed that they are legal
What the hell are you talking about

[koshgel]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income.  

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Pretty sure Portugal legalized ALL drugs, and they have only seen positive results.

What are the negative aspects of this? Illegality leads to impure forms of cocaine and even crack cocaine. Not to mention that massive waste of tax dollars that goes to the failed war on drugs.

The drug policy of Portugal was put in place in 2000, and was legally effective from July 2001. The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense was changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one if the amount possessed was no more than ten days' supply of that substance

Every year, Portuguese law enforcement bodies confiscate several tonnes of cocaine, with a record amount of more than 34.5 tonnes seized in 2006. A regular increase in quantities of cannabis resin seized could also be observed over recent years, though there has been a recent decline between 2008 (61 tonnes) and 2009 (23 tonnes)

Not really seeing any negatives.

Isn't it true that addiction has decreased in Portugal?

The same action here in the US would slash a huge portion of the Mexican cartel's income. Also, our jails wouldn't be so overpopulated with non-violent drug offenders

Drugs , any kind of drugs are illegal in Portugal. You claimed that they are legal
What the hell are you talking about

Ok.........Decriminalization. That is close to legalization.

In 2001, Portugal became the first European country to abolish all criminal penalties for personal drug possession. In addition, drug users were to be provided with therapy rather than prison sentences.

Why are you splitting hairs?

What are the negatives of this situation?

[niothor]

Ok.........Decriminalization. That is close to legalization.

In 2001, Portugal became the first European country to abolish all criminal penalties for personal drug possession. In addition, drug users were to be provided with therapy rather than prison sentences.

Why are you splitting hairs?

What are the negatives of this situation?

The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization.

Decriminalization doesn't make the legal. Drugs are still illegal in Portugal. Yet you stated that Portugal legalized drugs.
FALSE.
End of debate.

[1echo]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Cocaine is a horrible drug. It is generally considered to be a "hard" drug as it has very serious effects on you and your body. Any government that seriously considers to legalize cocaine is just crazy

[koshgel]

Ok.........Decriminalization. That is close to legalization.

In 2001, Portugal became the first European country to abolish all criminal penalties for personal drug possession. In addition, drug users were to be provided with therapy rather than prison sentences.

Why are you splitting hairs?

What are the negatives of this situation?

The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization.

Decriminalization doesn't make the legal. Drugs are still illegal in Portugal. Yet you stated that Portugal legalized drugs.
FALSE.
End of debate.

LOL you are a nit.

What are the negatives of drug decriminalization? Deflect some more

[niothor]

Ok.........Decriminalization. That is close to legalization.

In 2001, Portugal became the first European country to abolish all criminal penalties for personal drug possession. In addition, drug users were to be provided with therapy rather than prison sentences.

Why are you splitting hairs?

What are the negatives of this situation?

The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization.

Decriminalization doesn't make the legal. Drugs are still illegal in Portugal. Yet you stated that Portugal legalized drugs.
FALSE.
End of debate.

LOL you are a nit.

What are the negatives of drug decriminalization? Deflect some more

Have you ever done cocaine? Or heroine?
Or do you have at least one friend who is addicted to that stuff?

[koshgel]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Cocaine is a horrible drug. It is generally considered to be a "hard" drug as it has very serious effects on you and your body. Any government that seriously considers to legalize cocaine is just crazy

Why is it considered hard and why is it horrible? Because people abuse it?

Cocaine has been used medicinally, ceremonially, and recreationally since the pre-Columbian era. Pope Leo XIII carried around a flask of cocaine-laced wine called Vin Mariani. The 1886 recipe for Coca-Cola included coca leaves. Sigmund Freud even wrote about its use for exhilaration and lasting euphoria. It wasn't until 1903 that the American Journal of Pharmacy wrote about its ability for abuse by "degenerates".

The point of decriminalization is to get help for abusers instead of jail time and to take money out of the pockets of illegal gangs/cartels that profit from it. Most of the time through extreme violence. Any government that doesn't seriously consider decriminalization is just crazy.

[wasserman99]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Cocaine is a horrible drug. It is generally considered to be a "hard" drug as it has very serious effects on you and your body. Any government that seriously considers to legalize cocaine is just crazy

Why is it considered hard and why is it horrible? Because people abuse it?

Cocaine has been used medicinally, ceremonially, and recreationally since the pre-Columbian era. Pope Leo XIII carried around a flask of cocaine-laced wine called Vin Mariani. The 1886 recipe for Coca-Cola included coca leaves. Sigmund Freud even wrote about its use for exhilaration and lasting euphoria. It wasn't until 1903 that the American Journal of Pharmacy wrote about its ability for abuse by "degenerates".

The point of decriminalization is to get help for abusers instead of jail time and to take money out of the pockets of illegal gangs/cartels that profit from it. Most of the time through extreme violence. Any government that doesn't seriously consider decriminalization is just crazy.

The reason that cocaine is considered to be a "hard drug" is because it is so easy and so common to get addicted after using it for recreational purposes just a few times (if not the first time). Help is already available to people who abuse cocaine and other hard drugs, it is just that if they are caught with a certain amount of it they will also face criminal charges. The criminal aspect of it will likely cause people to not try it (and not get addicted to it) in the first place.

[chopstick]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income.  

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Cocaine is a horrible drug. It is generally considered to be a "hard" drug as it has very serious effects on you and your body. Any government that seriously considers to legalize cocaine is just crazy

Why is it considered hard and why is it horrible? Because people abuse it?

Cocaine has been used medicinally, ceremonially, and recreationally since the pre-Columbian era. Pope Leo XIII carried around a flask of cocaine-laced wine called Vin Mariani. The 1886 recipe for Coca-Cola included coca leaves. Sigmund Freud even wrote about its use for exhilaration and lasting euphoria. It wasn't until 1903 that the American Journal of Pharmacy wrote about its ability for abuse by "degenerates".

The point of decriminalization is to get help for abusers instead of jail time and to take money out of the pockets of illegal gangs/cartels that profit from it. Most of the time through extreme violence. Any government that doesn't seriously consider decriminalization is just crazy.

The reason that cocaine is considered to be a "hard drug" is because it is so easy and so common to get addicted after using it for recreational purposes just a few times (if not the first time). Help is already available to people who abuse cocaine and other hard drugs, it is just that if they are caught with a certain amount of it they will also face criminal charges. The criminal aspect of it will likely cause people to not try it (and not get addicted to it) in the first place.

Wishful thinking at best.

All Prohibition does is create an extremely lucrative black market for people to profit off of.... and create an equally lucrative for-profit private prison complex. There are billions of $ to be made. Do you really think people are going to stop doing it because of a silly law they don't even agree with, infact a law that they look down upon?

Millions of people still end up doing coke despite the law. Out of those millions, maybe 3-4% actually develop hardcore addictions. It's not as high as you think, but you are conditioned to think it's higher due to the propaganda.

Cocaine after all is a stimulant not that much stronger than coffee unless you take a large amount of it in its most purified refined form.

Asian immigrants would chew coca leaves before going to work before it was made illegal, this allowed them to work longer and harder than their white counterparts.

If you dig deep enough, you will find that prohibition has much of its roots entrenched in racism.

But anyway.. enough of the history lesson..

[tspacepilot]

The future of the marijuana industry is looking brighter and brighter and safer and safer thanks to recent legalizations and changing cultural moreys of the US West Coast states.

For the folks who were asking if I would live in a place with legal cocaine---absolutely!  In our world everything has a price and when you make something "illegal" all you're really doing in artificially inflating the price.  In the case of cocaine, prohibition is supporting all kinds of evils from the destruction of traditional ways of life in the Andes (coca farmers who are not producing cocaine) to the murder and violence of drug raids and smugglings.  And why?  People who want cocaine still pay the price to get it.

[Full Spectrum]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income. 

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Ah but you see they have!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_cocaine
They haven't gotten worse since they legalized them, Czech Republic is pretty nice

[koshgel]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income.  

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

If they legalized Marijuana and Cocaine, the cartels would be out of business.

Legalize cocaine? Yeah , I just want to see the country where this will become legal.
Pure curiosity , would you want to live there?

Cocaine is a horrible drug. It is generally considered to be a "hard" drug as it has very serious effects on you and your body. Any government that seriously considers to legalize cocaine is just crazy

Why is it considered hard and why is it horrible? Because people abuse it?

Cocaine has been used medicinally, ceremonially, and recreationally since the pre-Columbian era. Pope Leo XIII carried around a flask of cocaine-laced wine called Vin Mariani. The 1886 recipe for Coca-Cola included coca leaves. Sigmund Freud even wrote about its use for exhilaration and lasting euphoria. It wasn't until 1903 that the American Journal of Pharmacy wrote about its ability for abuse by "degenerates".

The point of decriminalization is to get help for abusers instead of jail time and to take money out of the pockets of illegal gangs/cartels that profit from it. Most of the time through extreme violence. Any government that doesn't seriously consider decriminalization is just crazy.

The reason that cocaine is considered to be a "hard drug" is because it is so easy and so common to get addicted after using it for recreational purposes just a few times (if not the first time). Help is already available to people who abuse cocaine and other hard drugs, it is just that if they are caught with a certain amount of it they will also face criminal charges. The criminal aspect of it will likely cause people to not try it (and not get addicted to it) in the first place.

This logic is ridiculous.

What about prescription drug abuse that is so rampant in this country? Are those considered hard drugs because they are easy to get and are extremely addictive?

People break their own legs/arms so that they can get these prescription drugs.

The idea that the criminal aspect will make people not try something is completely laughable. Illegality contributes to black market sales which contain chemically unsafe products and many of these drug deals end in violence.

[tspacepilot]

I agree, the reason one drug or another is made illegal usually has more to do with monied interests or racism than any concrete evaluation of what's actually dangerous.

[freedomno1]

In case Marijuana becomes legal within the next 10 years, most of the drug cartels around the world will lose their main source of income.  

Also, the national parks within the United States will no longer be cut down to plant hemp by the Mexican drug cartels. Also, the state and federal governments will benefit a lot, in terms of tax money.

Sounds about right honestly because they legalized these type of drugs in Latin America
It's making its way up the chain to other places pretty much even The USA admits it funked up this one pretty badly and needs to reconsider its approaches.

The question now becomes will it happen to cocaine once Marijuana falls
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ethan-nadelmann/colombia-decriminalizes-c_b_1638395.html

Also can we live in a society where we don't need to worry so much about money laundering because most drugs are legal or prescription only (except for the really really bad stuff)

___

Colombia's move is part of a growing trend in Latin America. After decades of being brutalized by the U.S. government's failed prohibitionist drug policies, Latin American leaders are saying "enough is enough."

Last week, the government of Uruguay announced that it will submit a proposal to legalize marijuana under government-controlled regulation and sale, making it the first country in the world where the state would sell marijuana directly to its citizens. The proposal was drafted by Uruguayan President José Mujica and his staff and requires parliamentary approval before being enacted.

Friday's judicial ruling in Colombia represents yet another important step in the growing political and judicial movement in Latin America and Europe to stop treating people who consume drugs as criminals worthy of incarceration. It is consistent with prior rulings by Colombian courts before former president Álvaro Uribe sought to undermine them, and also with rulings by the Supreme Court of Argentina in 2009 and other courts in the region. The Colombian Constitutional Court's decision is obviously most important in Colombia, where it represents both a powerful repudiation of former president Uribe's push to criminalize people who use drugs and a victory for President Juan Manuel Santos' call for a new direction in drug policy.

_
Sooner or later this might not become a crime per say with jail time but something that gets treated in therapy instead.