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Yep. We (the US) could / should start by legalizing and taxing marijuana, and use that money to provide healthcare for addicts (or just everyone). We should al

Yep. We (the US) could / should start by legalizing and taxing marijuana, and use that money to provide healthcare for addicts (or just everyone). We should also take a more “whole health” approach to mental health. The stigma of drug addiction keeps so many people from getting help. Ironically this deadly stigma is probably a direct result of the many years of drug war propaganda. And finally, we need to get to the bottom of how and why so many pharmaceuticals are available on the black market. It’s totally impossible for me to believe the pharmcos didn’t know they were profiting off of such tragedy.

throwaway892374 8y ago
I agree with you but have a note on taxes. I think we should just legalize it and tax it no differently than we tax the wine industry. When you impose extra taxes on formerly illegal items (often called a sin tax), you are moralizing and taking advantage of drug users as a population. You're saying, "OK, fine, we won't lock you up and bureaucratically destroy your life, but you have to pay us more money." Or a case in point, California's legalization of marijuana. With a medical recommendation (which I have), I was able to buy from many stores/delivery services and not have any extra taxes beyond sales tax. But now with legalized recreational, there's a 20% extra tax. This is on top of an already nearly 10% sales tax. So everything is way more expensive, creating an incentive to just buy on the black market. But then where's the 20% tax on wine? It's extremely arbitrary, what is a sin and what is not according to those in power. So for those that say "Legalize and tax the hell out of it", I really wish they'd just say "Legalize it because locking people up for modifying their own internal body chemistry is simply wrong."
- fhbdukfrh 8y ago
  Well in jurisdictions more likely to legalize any or all drugs they seem to have more social safety nets like Medicare. Drug users across the board use more resources so it makes sense to me to tax the hell out of it, be it tobacco, alcohol or marijuana
  - throwaway892374 8y ago
    > it makes sense to me to tax the hell out of it, be it tobacco, alcohol or marijuana Well this guy is fun at parties.
- throwaway129012 8y ago
  It's worth noting, that wine/beer/liquor also have sin taxes, which as far as I know are also a result of coming out of prohibition. I mention this because you said we should tax it like we do wine, but also appear to be fundamentally opposed to such taxes. It wasn't clear to me whether you realize alcohol has them tucked into the price, or you're just okay with the level they're at. California's are fairly low, but they are quite a bit higher in some states. https://www.salestaxhandbook.com/california/alcohol https://www.salestaxhandbook.com/california/alcohol
- laythea 8y ago
  Yes but as the general population demand increases, economies of scale take factor, so the cost (not the tax) goes down. Still might be more expensive, but less so that the 20%.

throwaway892374 8y ago

I agree with you but have a note on taxes. I think we should just legalize it and tax it no differently than we tax the wine industry. When you impose extra taxes on formerly illegal items (often called a sin tax), you are moralizing and taking advantage of drug users as a population. You're saying, "OK, fine, we won't lock you up and bureaucratically destroy your life, but you have to pay us more money." Or a case in point, California's legalization of marijuana. With a medical recommendation (which I have), I was able to buy from many stores/delivery services and not have any extra taxes beyond sales tax. But now with legalized recreational, there's a 20% extra tax. This is on top of an already nearly 10% sales tax. So everything is way more expensive, creating an incentive to just buy on the black market. But then where's the 20% tax on wine? It's extremely arbitrary, what is a sin and what is not according to those in power. So for those that say "Legalize and tax the hell out of it", I really wish they'd just say "Legalize it because locking people up for modifying their own internal body chemistry is simply wrong."

fhbdukfrh 8y ago
Well in jurisdictions more likely to legalize any or all drugs they seem to have more social safety nets like Medicare. Drug users across the board use more resources so it makes sense to me to tax the hell out of it, be it tobacco, alcohol or marijuana
- throwaway892374 8y ago
  > it makes sense to me to tax the hell out of it, be it tobacco, alcohol or marijuana Well this guy is fun at parties.
throwaway129012 8y ago
It's worth noting, that wine/beer/liquor also have sin taxes, which as far as I know are also a result of coming out of prohibition. I mention this because you said we should tax it like we do wine, but also appear to be fundamentally opposed to such taxes. It wasn't clear to me whether you realize alcohol has them tucked into the price, or you're just okay with the level they're at. California's are fairly low, but they are quite a bit higher in some states. https://www.salestaxhandbook.com/california/alcohol https://www.salestaxhandbook.com/california/alcohol
laythea 8y ago
Yes but as the general population demand increases, economies of scale take factor, so the cost (not the tax) goes down. Still might be more expensive, but less so that the 20%.