5 ms·

I can't help but to wonder if the tobacco lobby is somehow involved. For decades society fought against smoking and has largely won. So, what happened to all of

by josho 12y ago

I can't help but to wonder if the tobacco lobby is somehow involved. For decades society fought against smoking and has largely won. So, what happened to all of those tobacco crops? I wonder if that industry is behind the legalize movement so they can shift their production to another crop. Interesting historical fact is that initial tensions over marijuana came about because slaves, and later Mexican labourers were frequent users. White plantation owners (tobacco farmers) took issue with their practices. So, at least in part the banning of marijuana can be partially attributed to racism.

themartorana 12y ago
You’ll also see that the history of marijuana’s criminalization is filled with: - Racism - Fear - Protection of Corporate Profits - Yellow Journalism - Ignorant, Incompetent, and/or Corrupt Legislators - Personal Career Advancement and Greed These are the actual reasons marijuana is illegal. Some messed up stuff right here: http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/ http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal...
- adventured 12y ago
  There's a lot more money to be made domestically by legalization, when it comes to corporate profits, than there is in prohibition. The beer companies proved that the last time around. If legalization were decided by corporate profits, the war on drugs would have ended a long time ago. Big pharma would love nothing more than to hand out all sorts of prescription drugs over the counter. Big ag farms would love nothing more than to grow and sell pot. It's blatantly obvious that corporate profits are in fact not the issue. Right now, a lot of that money is outside the country, in the hands of cartels, middle-men, etc. That could be mostly brought home, and it would bolster corporate profits tremendously, to the tune of billions in profit per year.
  - josho 12y ago
    'Big pharma' has no interest in marijuana because it's not their business model. Since there is no patent protection the generic manufacturers would squeeze out any profit to be had the medical marijuana market.
    - applewut 12y ago
      There is a reason it's called "weed", it grows like one.
ashleyw 12y ago
Another thing to consider is that, at least in Europe, cannabis + tobacco joints are very popular. So not only could big tobacco quickly gain traction in the cannabis world if it were legal, but it'd also help hold onto its crashing tobacco sales.
- corin_ 12y ago
  I suspect if it was legal, a lot of people would move towards tobacco-substitutes to mix in their joint rather than actual tobacco. Amsterdam coffeeshops already sell pre-rolleds with "mix" in them (since smoking tobacco is illegal in there), I'm a cigarette smoker myself and I have no issues replacing tobacco with "mix" when I'm over there. (But right now for typical weed smokers: "mix" isn't easily found to buy, while tobacco is always easily on hand. If it was sold in legal shops they could offer mix at the same time, something there's no incentive for illegal dealers to do.)
aaronbrethorst 12y ago
The biggest players in the anti-marijuana legalization movement are pharmaceutical, alcohol and beer companies, private prison corporations and police unions, all of whom help fund lobby groups that challenge marijuana law reform. http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-pharmaceuticals-alcohol-industry-among-biggest-opponents-legal-weed-1651166 http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-pharmaceutical...

by josho 12y ago

themartorana 12y ago

You’ll also see that the history of marijuana’s criminalization is filled with: - Racism - Fear - Protection of Corporate Profits - Yellow Journalism - Ignorant, Incompetent, and/or Corrupt Legislators - Personal Career Advancement and Greed These are the actual reasons marijuana is illegal. Some messed up stuff right here: http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/ http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal...

adventured 12y ago
There's a lot more money to be made domestically by legalization, when it comes to corporate profits, than there is in prohibition. The beer companies proved that the last time around. If legalization were decided by corporate profits, the war on drugs would have ended a long time ago. Big pharma would love nothing more than to hand out all sorts of prescription drugs over the counter. Big ag farms would love nothing more than to grow and sell pot. It's blatantly obvious that corporate profits are in fact not the issue. Right now, a lot of that money is outside the country, in the hands of cartels, middle-men, etc. That could be mostly brought home, and it would bolster corporate profits tremendously, to the tune of billions in profit per year.
- josho 12y ago
  'Big pharma' has no interest in marijuana because it's not their business model. Since there is no patent protection the generic manufacturers would squeeze out any profit to be had the medical marijuana market.
  - applewut 12y ago
    There is a reason it's called "weed", it grows like one.

ashleyw 12y ago

Another thing to consider is that, at least in Europe, cannabis + tobacco joints are very popular. So not only could big tobacco quickly gain traction in the cannabis world if it were legal, but it'd also help hold onto its crashing tobacco sales.

corin_ 12y ago
I suspect if it was legal, a lot of people would move towards tobacco-substitutes to mix in their joint rather than actual tobacco. Amsterdam coffeeshops already sell pre-rolleds with "mix" in them (since smoking tobacco is illegal in there), I'm a cigarette smoker myself and I have no issues replacing tobacco with "mix" when I'm over there. (But right now for typical weed smokers: "mix" isn't easily found to buy, while tobacco is always easily on hand. If it was sold in legal shops they could offer mix at the same time, something there's no incentive for illegal dealers to do.)

aaronbrethorst 12y ago

The biggest players in the anti-marijuana legalization movement are pharmaceutical, alcohol and beer companies, private prison corporations and police unions, all of whom help fund lobby groups that challenge marijuana law reform. http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-pharmaceuticals-alcohol-industry-among-biggest-opponents-legal-weed-1651166 http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-pharmaceutical...