Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

mynorthwest.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 142 posts

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#61

Post by flyinRyan »

Tiktaalik wrote: post #15

It'll be interesting to see what, if any, effect this has north of the border in British Columbia. Marijuana decriminalization and legalization has often been discussed in Canada, but one of the main arguments against a change in the law is that the United States would not approve. Seems like that may be changing.

>but one of the main arguments against a change in the law is that the United States would not approve.

How embarrassing for your country. The US doesn't approve of prostitution either, though?

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#62

Post by marshray »

Jabbles wrote: post #53
Tuna-Fish wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't see the point of a whole 25% tax on top of that. I would like to point out that a 25% tax on legally produced marijuana is very low . A 500% tax would still be low. Considering the amounts consumed, growing marijuana is really easy and cheap. Without the legislation against it, when grown in volume by professionals it should have a cost per kg nearing that of hydroponic cabbage, or some 1000 times less than…

A quick internet search suggests the price for "high quality" marijuana is roughly $250 per ounce in California. That's $9000/kg. For comparison the price of Gold appears to be roughly $55000/kg. If you're right about it being as easy to grow as cabbage, then I think it could be taxed quite a lot...

The problem with taxing something you don't like is the government quickly becomes dependent on the revenue and ends up having a perverse incentive to promote it.

My guess is the medical prescription nature of marijuana in California probably inflates its price 10x.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#63

Post by Symmetry »

netcan wrote: post #52
ComputerGuru wrote: post #8

I'm not someone who would take advantage of the legalization of marijuana, but I am in favor of legalization because I don't think it's the government's job to tell you what you can or can't do. If drinking is legal, smoking weed should be too. I understand the concept behind a tax on marijuana, but I don't understand a 25% tax on every stage of the process... If you're saying that it's legal to use marijuana respons…

It's part of making an overwhelming argument, overcoming as many objections as possible. Common component of rhetorical arguments, especially by economically minded people. For example, fre market economists are usually pro economic immigration: Let resources (labour) go to their highest value use. If a graphic designer can make more in an Oslo design office than they can in Bucharest, there is a potential economic s…

Good post. The economic term for these sort of arguments is Pareto Efficiency [1]. I think there's a lot to be said for the idea that you ought to make all the changes that make literally everyone better off before worrying about changes that make some people better off and some people less so.

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_efficiency

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#64

Post by marshray »

marcos123 wrote: post #55
pixie_ wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? How do you know, 'it hasn't stopped them.' How do you count the number of people who never got addicted to meth because it wasn't on sale at 7-11, or was never made the secret ingredient in McDonald's new meth burger. Do you know that without rules, there really are no rules, and the examples I just gave are the tip of a scary iceberg. Do you know what worse is? You have no idea.

It's funny how humans tend to fully forget about things that happened only 100 years prior. Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, some 50% of the American population was addicted to opiates in one form or another, usually without even realizing it (due to there being no failed drug laws yet, and no laws regarding the listing of ingredients on common "elixirs"). And yet, we didn't live in some apocalyptic wastelan…

Well, there were certainly parts of post Civil War America that could be properly described as a post-apocalypic wasteland. But this was the clearly the fault of state and federal politicians, not the traveling medicine shows and pharmacies.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#66

Post by Symmetry »

bobzimuta wrote: post #35
koudelka wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tend to agree that all substances should be legal, I'm just stumped when it comes to implementation. I'm sure most people wouldn't be too happy if a heroin or crack shop opened up in their neighborhood though. Should we allow the passing of ordinances preventing the operation of such shops? Should the selling be handled by designated shops at all?

Not all substances need to be legalized. There's no reason for the government to promote the use of drugs, however it should stay out of our personal choices as much as possible. Borrowing from Portugal's drug policy, decriminalize possession of personal amounts of drugs and focus on rehabilitation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal#Laws_an...

I can see the point of only decriminalizing those few drugs, like meth, that are actually worse than alcohol. But really, shouldn't the government be encouraging people to be using marijuana rather than alcohol just from a public health perspective?

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#67

Post by stephengillie »

marshray wrote: post #62
Jabbles wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A quick internet search suggests the price for "high quality" marijuana is roughly $250 per ounce in California. That's $9000/kg. For comparison the price of Gold appears to be roughly $55000/kg. If you're right about it being as easy to grow as cabbage, then I think it could be taxed quite a lot...

The problem with taxing something you don't like is the government quickly becomes dependent on the revenue and ends up having a perverse incentive to promote it. My guess is the medical prescription nature of marijuana in California probably inflates its price 10x.

We just deregulated alcohol last year -- meaning the WA liquor control board stores shut down and we can purchase from grocery stores, with a $2.85 tax per 750ml, on top of the 10% sales tax.

The justification is that this will funnel more money into the state's general fund.

And the nickname "weed" is apparently appropriate -- growers tell me it's a hearty crop.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#68

Post by Symmetry »

WalterBright wrote: post #38
pixie_ wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? How do you know, 'it hasn't stopped them.' How do you count the number of people who never got addicted to meth because it wasn't on sale at 7-11, or was never made the secret ingredient in McDonald's new meth burger. Do you know that without rules, there really are no rules, and the examples I just gave are the tip of a scary iceberg. Do you know what worse is? You have no idea.

We do have Prohibition - before, after, and during. Consumption went up during, and back down afterwards. Crime went up during, and back down afterwards.

Wait, are your stats on consumption adjusted for population? The numbers I saw was that the percentage of people using alcohol doubled after the end of prohibition, and alcohol abuse went up around 15%.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#69

Post by Symmetry »

pixie_ wrote: post #24
TruthElixirX wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Has banning people from shooting meth into the webbing of their fingers stopped them? No. It has only made things worse. 100% legalization for all substances.

Really? How do you know, 'it hasn't stopped them.' How do you count the number of people who never got addicted to meth because it wasn't on sale at 7-11, or was never made the secret ingredient in McDonald's new meth burger. Do you know that without rules, there really are no rules, and the examples I just gave are the tip of a scary iceberg. Do you know what worse is? You have no idea.

I don't know that anyone is arguing for "No rules". Alcohol is 100% legalized, but you can't be surprised that the soda you bought is really 40 proof.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#70

Post by rada »

drivebyacct2 wrote: post #40
dreamdu5t wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The government is a protection racket. Laws against weed violate the sovereignty of hte individual. It's absurd that the primary argument is tax revenue. Really shows how whacked politics and American's conception of government is.

I'm interested to know why you're being downvoted.

My guess is because of this tired and baseless anti-Americanism:

Really shows how whacked American's conception of government is.

Post reply on HN