Find Your Valentine
Slog
News & ArtsThursday, June 11, 2009
Drugs By the End of Next Year
Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Prepare for states around the country to enact new pot laws. Last year Massachusetts decriminalized pot by a landslide vote (despite united opposition from the Democratic establishment). Now a campaign may try passing an even broader law in California:
With polls showing the legalization of marijuana gaining public support, and a state budget crisis fueling an ever-more-desperate search for revenue, backers of the first major statewide initiative to legalize marijuana for personal use - and allow counties to tax and regulate the drug - say they're preparing to get the matter on the November 2010 ballot.
The poor economy will likely become the key message—the most persuasive reason to shift our tax money to bigger priorities—that convinces people that it's finally time to stop arresting pot smokers. Washington voters are poised to decriminalize marijuana—reducing jail penalties and treating possession like a traffic ticket, which would free up $16,008,360. Polling suggests that most voters here would favor it, the federal government is likely to stay out of the debate, and we've got groups with the dough to run an initiative.
1
I would be really interested to read an article about how this would actually go down, commerce-wise, in the first year or two. Who will sell it? Who would the suppliers be? How would you test/ensure consistent quality/potency? How will it be priced? How are you going to sever all the old dealer/buyer relationships and eliminate the current "black market" (or will a lower price do it, if that's what's going to happen)?
I can picture what this looks like in 10 years, but how the market and supply chain develops initially would be totally fascinating. Um... for me, anyways.
I can picture what this looks like in 10 years, but how the market and supply chain develops initially would be totally fascinating. Um... for me, anyways.
3
I think smoking pot is stupid. I think our current approach to pot is even stupider. Legalize it, tax it, and move on.
4
It would be so funny (and great) if pot finally gets decriminalized because the state simply needed the money.
Julie @1 - you raise good points. It's one thing to decriminalize, it would be another to create a functioning supply-chain in the minefield of state vs federal drug laws.
Julie @1 - you raise good points. It's one thing to decriminalize, it would be another to create a functioning supply-chain in the minefield of state vs federal drug laws.
5
Our state would have balanced the budget without cuts if we sold MJ at liquor stores with similar pricing and taxation.
Just saying.
Just saying.
7
@1 we have a perfect example, the end of prohibition.
There will be vast fortunes made and in about 1 generation a dude named Joe Kennedyformerblackmarketpotdealernowlegitimate will make a fortune in the legit wall st. stock market and in the next generation he'll put his daughter in the white house....
There will be vast fortunes made and in about 1 generation a dude named Joe Kennedyformerblackmarketpotdealernowlegitimate will make a fortune in the legit wall st. stock market and in the next generation he'll put his daughter in the white house....
8
Seems like pro pot voters might be sympathetic to the idea of repealing Prop 8. Might be interesting to see them both on a ballot at the same time...
9
@5
I wonder how much closer to closing the budget we would be if our state closed all the State Liquor Stores and sold liquor (and pot) through grocery stores with a suitable tax.
Why is the State maintaining an expensive and inefficient sales distribution channel it does not need?
How much does it cost the state to keep all those liquor stores open?
I wonder how much closer to closing the budget we would be if our state closed all the State Liquor Stores and sold liquor (and pot) through grocery stores with a suitable tax.
Why is the State maintaining an expensive and inefficient sales distribution channel it does not need?
How much does it cost the state to keep all those liquor stores open?
10
Dominic, you are frequently too willing to forecast broad trends based on a single incident (and in this case, the incident hasn't even happened yet). There's a single initiative planned in a single state. I can't see how that means we should prepare for states around the country to enact new pot laws by the end of next year.
11
What I find troubling is that it took this long to start using common sense. Think of all the lives in ruins because of these laws. People have been denied all manner of a "normal" life because of a jackboot approach to people's use of a harmless recreational drug. At least harmless compared to alcohol for example.
12
Who will sell it? Who would the suppliers be? How would you test/ensure consistent quality/potency? How will it be priced?
There are already marijuana shops/boutiques around Seattle and around California. Remember, we legalized medical marijuana? This would just let the shops open their doors to the public and expand.
There are already many different suppliers with different brand names, and quality/potency is market-based by the brand -- just like tobacco or alcohol or salvia or food.
Prices are generally slightly lower than street prices, but there are low end, mid range, and high end options.
13
Will this be through a constitutional amendment? The campaign ads should claim that it will stop schools from making kids watch gay porn. Please think of the children.
14
@12 the current shops in CA would definitely be major sellers. But, I wonder if other stores (liquor stores?) will sell it (or would be allowed to). How will the current shops (and others) and the suppliers handle the massive increase in demand?
And, will only marijuana grown in CA be able to be sold there? You have all of these illegal growers all over the world, who can now sell it legally in CA (though, it might still be illegal for them to grow it, transport it to CA, and sell it elsewhere). How will growers connect with the retail shops (I might be inclined to start a wholesale distribution company, if this thing passes)? Will major corporations get involved (on the growing, distribution, or retail side)?
I don't know, it's interesting to see how any new industry develops, but this product has the added complexity of being illegal just about everywhere else...
And, will only marijuana grown in CA be able to be sold there? You have all of these illegal growers all over the world, who can now sell it legally in CA (though, it might still be illegal for them to grow it, transport it to CA, and sell it elsewhere). How will growers connect with the retail shops (I might be inclined to start a wholesale distribution company, if this thing passes)? Will major corporations get involved (on the growing, distribution, or retail side)?
I don't know, it's interesting to see how any new industry develops, but this product has the added complexity of being illegal just about everywhere else...
15
@9 - that would lead to kids getting pot and hard liquor.
I say keep it in liquor stores, where they card EVERYONE.
I say keep it in liquor stores, where they card EVERYONE.
17
@15
Yeah... cause that keeps the kids form getting the booze. Right?
Seems like a very expensive and not very effective solution.
Yeah... cause that keeps the kids form getting the booze. Right?
Seems like a very expensive and not very effective solution.
18
@17 - no, but it puts up a barrier that allows parents to pretend that it stops the kids. It's all about the psychology - if you sell it in liquor stores, where they know kids aren't even allowed, their fear factor goes down and they are more likely to support it.
Selling it where tobacco is sold would be too lax, and thus would garner lower levels of support.
Selling it where tobacco is sold would be too lax, and thus would garner lower levels of support.
19
@18
This is just another reason children should be institutionalized in isolation from society until they are adults.
It's a hopelessly decadent society that fetishizes its children to the point of child proofing its self.
This is just another reason children should be institutionalized in isolation from society until they are adults.
It's a hopelessly decadent society that fetishizes its children to the point of child proofing its self.
20
Personally I think there's not much economic opportunity here until the state vs. federal issues are resolved. Too much legal risk.
I certainly would not get involved in any pot-related business until federal drug laws around marijuana were changed.
I'm fairly risk-averse, though... so, maybe the governator has more saque.
I certainly would not get involved in any pot-related business until federal drug laws around marijuana were changed.
I'm fairly risk-averse, though... so, maybe the governator has more saque.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
SL Letter of the Day: Pill The Homos! by Dan Savage
-
Dear Huffington Post... by Dan Savage
-
Because Guns Make Us More Safer by Goldy
-
The Rick Santorum Rally in Tacoma Probably Could Have Gone Better by Paul Constant
-
Slog Bible Study: Deuteronomy 21:10-14 by Goldy
-
The AP Is Reporting That Whitney Houston Is Dead by Paul Constant
-
SL Letter of the Day: Daddy Loves Who? by Dan Savage
-
Because Guns Make Us Safer by Goldy
-
Gay Kids Are Still Killing Themselves by Dan Savage
-
Gregoire: "This is signed!" by Eli Sanders
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (20) RSS