America is worse off when pot is criminalized

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A USA TODAY Network investigation into marijuana legalization revealed increases in marijuana-related car crashes and in hospitalization of kids who steal their parents’ pot. Marijuana smugglers are also growing across the U.S.

Billions spent on failed antidrug/interdiction programs, countless lives (especially minorities) tainted with criminal records, and billions lost in tax revenue sent to the cartels instead of public services. And the government still can’t see how analogous the situation is to Prohibition and its abject failure. This is just another example of a self-righteous few imposing their beliefs on the majority. David Brinson

After pot was legalized, I believe big businesses took over and most people aren’t able to afford legal pot — but the demand has grown. This could have led to even more drug dealers than before because they sell cheap pot to those who can’t afford the expensive legal stuff. Crime increases, drug use is up, people spend their hardearned money on pot instead of paying their bills. It’s a lose-lose situation. The only winners are those in the pot business. Just like with alcohol and tobacco, big business preys on the weak. Kenneth Lynch

A good way to create a black market is to ban something that is not dangerous and many people want. You would think getting government out of the lives of Americans would be a conservative priority, but the opposite is true when it comes to marijuana. Why?

Until it’s legalized in all states, there will be smugglers. Do you think you can’t get an adult beverage in a “dry” county? As long as you try to keep something from the public that it wants, someone will provide. David Brinson

Here in Florida, voters approved medical marijuana overwhelmingly, yet Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican legislature put enough rules in place to make it unattainable. Here, you can get a prescription for Oxycontin or Xanax and ruin your whole life, but you can’t smoke a joint. Hank Chandler