Ace of Spades makes a compelling counter-argument to decriminalization because organized crime would simply move from pot to other criminal work. "These points don't make the case against decriminalization; but it is nevertheless important to debate in terms of reality, not the unicorns-and-ice-cream fantasies the decriminalization proponents usually offer."
The article ignores the possibility that the marijuana industry could be modeled on Big Tobacco. The taxes would then be collected at the retail level like in a Canadian smoke shop.Marijuana would also come under federal health inspection regulations - today the millions of people who buy their pot from anonymous sources have no clue what poisons are lurking in their stash. In order to be safe, pot would have to be graded like good steak. Canada Grade A. But that's industrial scale.
What if - as a way of broaching this subject - we simply allow folks to grow their own pot without fear of prosecution. The same way we allow people to make their own beer. At least it's a start.
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