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Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

washingtonpost.com

11–20 of 238 posts

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#11
post #5

The cartels, of course, are adapting to the new reality. Seizure data appears to indicate that with marijuana profits tumbling, they're switching over to heroin and meth. This is a really interesting development. There's always been this "gateway drug" argument around pot: once people start with marijuana, they'll move onto the harder stuff. I can imagine that there might be a correlation, but I expect that the causa…

Here's to hoping people realize and deal with the real gateway drug: Prescription opiates

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#12
post #9
post #2

This is one of the main reasons I support legalization and/or decriminalization of all drugs. Demand is demand, and a black market economy is worse than a transparent & regulated economy. I think it's still necessary to focus on reducing demand (through education and self-help, not punishment).

>Demand is demand, and a black market economy is worse than a transparent & regulated economy. would this apply to gun ownership too?

Of course. Unfortunately the main issue there is that people disagree on exactly how much gun ownership should be regulated.

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#13
post #11
post #5

The cartels, of course, are adapting to the new reality. Seizure data appears to indicate that with marijuana profits tumbling, they're switching over to heroin and meth. This is a really interesting development. There's always been this "gateway drug" argument around pot: once people start with marijuana, they'll move onto the harder stuff. I can imagine that there might be a correlation, but I expect that the causa…

Here's to hoping people realize and deal with the real gateway drug: Prescription opiates

They're not just gateway drugs, but also a huge problem in and of themselves. I have a friend who went to rehab for heroin and he said most of the people there were addicted to oxycodone, not heroin. Opiates are not to be trifled with, yet some doctors are more than willing to throw them at people. My other friend was prescribed Norco for a sore throat >:(

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#15

Pot is still illegal in Australia because, you know, it's bad.

http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/02/10/australia-medical-mari...

> The bill that would legalize cultivation of Australia medical marijuana is guaranteed to become law, with the main opposition party immediately pledging support

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#16
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But alcohol is, you know, grrrreeeat! /s

The fact that we have one terrible substance that is legal isn't a justification to legalize another.

you're right. however, pot is less terrible than alcohol in basically every way.

except that alcohol currently and historically has generated huge tax revenue. if i were the alcohol lobby, i would make damn sure than no other drugs become legal and taxed.

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#17
post #11
post #5

The cartels, of course, are adapting to the new reality. Seizure data appears to indicate that with marijuana profits tumbling, they're switching over to heroin and meth. This is a really interesting development. There's always been this "gateway drug" argument around pot: once people start with marijuana, they'll move onto the harder stuff. I can imagine that there might be a correlation, but I expect that the causa…

Here's to hoping people realize and deal with the real gateway drug: Prescription opiates

Here's to hoping people realize and deal with the real gateway drug: Alcohol, that great destroyer of worlds, marriages, cultures, physical health and particularly the brain, time (hangovers, boredom), coping strategies (emotional pain), real pain (coping strategies), poor decision making (you know it), and so on. Start here, and come into it with a few entrenched problems, and sure enough you'll find yourself elsewhere should time and circumstance align.

To all the magical, healing drugs that are currenly illegal: may you one day be free. http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2010/11/drugs_caus...

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#18
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But alcohol is, you know, grrrreeeat! /s

The fact that we have one terrible substance that is legal isn't a justification to legalize another.

the fact that you say something isn't a justification of it's correctness.

a legal ruling creates PRECEDENT. you're an idiot.

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#19
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's to hoping people realize and deal with the real gateway drug: Prescription opiates

They're not just gateway drugs, but also a huge problem in and of themselves. I have a friend who went to rehab for heroin and he said most of the people there were addicted to oxycodone, not heroin. Opiates are not to be trifled with, yet some doctors are more than willing to throw them at people. My other friend was prescribed Norco for a sore throat >:(

I've heard that Heroin was invented in first place to be a "phasing out" drug of sorts, to fix Morphine addiction...

Re: Legal marijuana is taking a bite out of drug cartels' profits

#20
While the seizure rate has gone down, I believe this to be a two part or multiple part reason. Border agents have also gone way down along the border. It's a number that has also been rapidly decreasing over the past four years from the current administration. Ex: I am a past employee of Customs and Border.
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