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LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 2:32 am
"ending" the drug war isn't good enough, since it would depend on what the new situation is. Make drug use a misdemeanor? Make it legal to use but illegal to sell large amounts? Legal to sell but illegal to mak? There are numerous ways to go. Some would keep the big money people intact and money begets violence.
I'm surprised that an American doesn't take up the Capitalist viewpoint: the state - or a licensed commercial representative - could produce and sell quality-controlled drugs, and they could and would generate profit, and tax revenue too. That assumes full decriminalisation of all drugs, of course - a policy that has delivered some significant successes in Portugal, and (I think) other countries too.
Once all drugs were legal, the formerly-illegal drugs trade would no longer be profitable. It justifies its prices because the traders in drugs take the risk of discovery and imprisonment. Legal drugs could be sold for half (?) the current price, with working quality-control and consistency, and still deliver a worthwhile profit... And no obvious connection to violence either...
As you know I wasn't commenting on my preference for what the post Drug War situation should look like.
I have posted in other threads that I do not support making all medications available to the public. Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
The reason legal marijuana is expensive is because the State slaps a confiscatory tax on those vendors. Pols are always looking for new sources of revenue so they can deliver more free lunches to clamoring constituents.
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
The reason legal marijuana is expensive is because the State slaps a confiscatory tax on those vendors. Pols are always looking for new sources of revenue so they can deliver more free lunches to clamoring constituents.
Sure everyone knows the reason, but my point is it is a fallacy to propose that legal equals cheap.
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
The reason legal marijuana is expensive is because the State slaps a confiscatory tax on those vendors. Pols are always looking for new sources of revenue so they can deliver more free lunches to clamoring constituents.
Sure everyone knows the reason, but my point is it is a fallacy to propose that legal equals cheap.
I assume you are allowed to grow your own where buying is legal?
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
The reason legal marijuana is expensive is because the State slaps a confiscatory tax on those vendors. Pols are always looking for new sources of revenue so they can deliver more free lunches to clamoring constituents.
Sure everyone knows the reason, but my point is it is a fallacy to propose that legal equals cheap.
I assume you are allowed to grow your own where buying is legal?
You can have 4 plants, but you can't sell so it doesn't impact retail pricing.
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
I have posted in other threads that I do not support making all medications available to the public. Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
The reason legal marijuana is expensive is because the State slaps a confiscatory tax on those vendors. Pols are always looking for new sources of revenue so they can deliver more free lunches to clamoring constituents.
Sure everyone knows the reason, but my point is it is a fallacy to propose that legal equals cheap.
I assume you are allowed to grow your own where buying is legal?
You can have 4 plants, but you can't sell so it doesn't impact retail pricing.
If everyone had four plants, then the market would die completely
But if no one were allowed to grow without a licence, that would make it a sellers market.
Sure everyone knows the reason, but my point is it is a fallacy to propose that legal equals cheap.
I assume you are allowed to grow your own where buying is legal?
You can have 4 plants, but you can't sell so it doesn't impact retail pricing.
If everyone had four plants, then the market would die completely
But if no one were allowed to grow without a licence, that would make it a sellers market.
SO I disagree that it has no impact.
Huh? No one is allowed to sell without a license, so how is that a seller's market?
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
I have posted in other threads that I do not support making all medications available to the public. Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
I assume you are allowed to grow your own where buying is legal?
You can have 4 plants, but you can't sell so it doesn't impact retail pricing.
If everyone had four plants, then the market would die completely
But if no one were allowed to grow without a licence, that would make it a sellers market.
SO I disagree that it has no impact.
Huh? No one is allowed to sell without a license, so how is that a seller's market?
If you can grow your own you do not buy. Equals no market at all.
If you cannot grow your own, then you have no choice but to buy or go without. That is a sellers market.
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
I have posted in other threads that I do not support making all medications available to the public. Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
Exactly, the illégal market is cheaper than the legal price.
ALL pot is cheaper, though. Legalisation made it so. Criminalising the market makes it very expensive.
illegal dope in a legal market is cheap.
All dope in an illegal market is expensive.
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
I have posted in other threads that I do not support making all medications available to the public. Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
Exactly, the illegal market is cheaper than the legal price.
Huh? From the article I linked, that you (apparently) just read:
All the diverse effects of legalizing recreational marijuana may not be clear for a number of years, but one consequence has become evident almost immediately: Pot has never been so cheap.
It seems the illegal market is not cheaper than the legal price.
LuckyR wrote: ↑March 30th, 2021, 5:50 pm
I have posted in other threads that I do not support making all medications available to the public. Though I feel that the marijuana experience shows that the dispensary costs can exceed the street price (but that many but not all consumers choose to pay the higher price to stay legal).
Exactly, the illegal market is cheaper than the legal price.
Huh? From the article I linked, that you (apparently) just read:
All the diverse effects of legalizing recreational marijuana may not be clear for a number of years, but one consequence has become evident almost immediately: Pot has never been so cheap.
It seems the illegal market is not cheaper than the legal price.
Several things. First, the Washington Post charges to read their articles. Second, illegal pot is cheaper because of the loss of market share going to the more expensive legal market. Just think about it for a second, who is going to pay more for illegal product? No one.
LuckyR wrote: ↑April 3rd, 2021, 12:33 pm
Illegal pot is cheaper because of the loss of market share going to the more expensive legal market. Just think about it for a second, who is going to pay more for illegal product? No one.
Not being American, I'm not aware of street prices over there, nor of how the commerce splits between legal and illegal suppliers. I only responded with the view of a traditionally reliable American newspaper.
Oh, but people in some places where cannabis was legalised preferred to stay with illegal product because the 'official' stuff was not as good. [N.B. From memory only: hearsay.]
LuckyR wrote: ↑April 3rd, 2021, 12:33 pm
Illegal pot is cheaper because of the loss of market share going to the more expensive legal market. Just think about it for a second, who is going to pay more for illegal product? No one.
Not being American, I'm not aware of street prices over there, nor of how the commerce splits between legal and illegal suppliers. I only responded with the view of a traditionally reliable American newspaper.
Oh, but people in some places where cannabis was legalised preferred to stay with illegal product because the 'official' stuff was not as good. [N.B. From memory only: hearsay.]
Trust me, huge controversy here in Oregon ($1.1 billion in legal sales in 2020) because of a change in the law diverting funds from local municipalities to drug addiction programs. The cities are thinking of additional taxes making up for it and the serious concern price will force folks to the cheaper illegal market.