9 Comments on How does the government make more money off marijuana being illegal rather then legal?

QT_Pie on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


The government actually makes more money off of the fines and penalties they charge for being in possession of an illegal substance than they do off of taxes on legal substances. Also3 the money spent on court costs, jails, etc does eat up most of these fines.

I really don't the legalization debate is about money though. there's a certain stigma attached to marijuana that I don't think it will ever shed completely. It's considered the "gateway" drug to harder drugs. People smoke on their breaks at work and cause all kinds of problems in the workplace. One of it's side effects is that it can make people lethargic or cause them to experience hallucinations.

If marijuana's use was VERY tightly controlled, I think it has the potential to be legalized for medical uses or other non-recreational uses. But do I think this country will ever legalize it in a purely recreational sense? No.

<3 italiana <3 on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


I always thought that taxing people that did drugs and making it legal would be by far a really great idea.

i agree with you

gabykawa on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


The government imposes fines and take tax money in order to "protect" the citizens from the evil of marijuana.
Now it can seize money just because a police officer says that it could be related to drug crimes. No evidence needed, no court involvement necessary. In fact there's no trial after the seizure so the victim (criminal) can't respond to the charges nor get his money back.
(never carry more than a hundred dollars in your pocket…)

Taxing only the distribution of marijuana wouldn't be as profitable. Plus, it requires a lot of legal procedures. The current system allows the government to get money at all levels (city to federal) without much legal hassle, not much paperwork and not even money related to marijuana.

Steve Ski on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


I don't think they do.
I think marijuana was 1st made illegal in the 1930's under pressure from DOW Chemical so that they could be the only grower of hemp. Over time it got the "Killer Weed" stigma, too.
I would think legalizing it would be a boom for government in taxes, plus the money they would save trying to eradicate it being imported and grown, plus the cost of jailing users and dealer. Just like liquor and tobacco are.
But…legalizing it just make to much sense…so it won't happen anytime soon on a federal level.

dagoddfatha1 on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


this is a hard question well on the side of how things are now they get money from the huge fines they put on ppl i.e. i was popped with 1 joint and a pack of rolling papers it cost me in fines for the papers 750 (drug parfnilla) (sp) and for the joint it was 1000 ok theres 1750 then the cort cost of 99 and then probation cost of 500 so off 1 doobie they got around 2500 so thats how they make more money off it being legal…for the most part pot offenders are out on probation and pay fines…

rm2k4 on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


It seems on the surface that all the gov would have to do is simply tax it. The thing is though, it's pretty easy to grow marijuana, much easier to produce at home, than say tobacco or booze.

Lola on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


Unlike alcohol, people are able to grow their own marajuana.
Alcohol is legal because they can distribute it, and tax it and make money from it. If pot were legalized, why would you spend $20 on something you could grow for free. They know this, so untill they figure out a way to stop people from growing their own, they won't make it legal.

I say: ALL DRUGS should be legal and free and the goverment should provide you a place to do them if you wish.
That would solve a lot of problems. If you choose to sit and do drugs all day and mess up your life, so be it. It is your life. You are not hurting anyone else. If your not smart enough to do other things, then the world will be fine without you.
This would make it a F myself world instead of a F you world as it is now. People would not rob, kill and hurt others for drugs, they would only harm themselves.

astra on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


I agree, but…..But you have to understand what one buys and gets busted for, means the end to free parting with some of the pieces of work that we already have to help run
things….lol so making it legal would just be big downer for them, then they would have to buy it themselves…..

Sandra M on Fri, 27th Feb 2009 1:06 am


I agree but they do make money because every time someone is arrested for marijuana they have to pay hefty court fines and go through their stupid programs that cost money too. They do it so that they can have a job because legalization would certainly do away with some of their jobs, we wouldn't need as many officers on staff if pot were legal. And it is true there wouldn't be as many people in prison. It is no different than prohibition on alcohol years ago and if that is legal I don't see why pot is illegal for real. Alcohol is worse than pot any day. One in four American families are affected by alcoholism.

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