by Dan Hartzell
"Joe from Salisbury" had trouble posting this commentary in response
to my recent column regarding driving while high on marijuana, and to
the several responses from readers both pro and con, so I'll steer the
information onto the site for him.
Thanks, Joe!
---------------------------------------------
Hi Dan,
So many issues to debate on this point/counter-point exchange between you and Bob.
Have we seen an increased use of grain alcohol or other hard liquor
because beer just doesn’t provide an adequate buzz anymore? The
transition from marijuana to harder forms of drug use is more a value
proposition than a decision based on the effects of each.
If one could obtain the same or better buzz from an alternative
source, say crack for example, at a comparable price, then one could
expect a logical transition.
Aside from the price/effect ratio,
convenience and availability are other factors. How easy or difficult
is it to find someone selling marijuana vs. selling crack, and how easy
or difficult is each to transport, store and consume, especially given
the illegal status of both? Regardless, the fact is that marijuana
would be legal and all other forms of “drugs” will continue to be
illegal, so we haven’t introduced any new enforcement issues in the
process.
Second, the concept that street vendors will continue to exist is
just an example of free-market enterprise. If legal distribution
channels are losing sales to competition, then one would assume they
will lower their prices. Ask Bob (the legalization opponent) if he
purchases products over the internet and whether he voluntarily
submits PA sales tax payments when they're not specified by the vendor.
Also, price is just one component of the purchasing decision. One
would expect the legal distribution network to provide a wider selection
of different marijuana types with an expected, if not guaranteed, level
of quality.
This is the advantage the legal system has over the street
vendor. The old adage “buyer beware” certainly applies here. Ask Bob
if he buys his watches at a jewelry or department store or from someone
on the streets of our fine city.
The state legislature legalized slots gambling and later added
"harder-core" table games, all in the interest of generating new forms
of revenue without increasing personal or business taxes.
Opponents
argued that an increasing number of people would become addicted to
gambling and suffer untold losses of personal fortune. Has that
happened?
Whether we like it or not, legalization of marijuana may become an
inevitable fact purely from the standpoint that it makes good financial
sense for the people of the Commonwealth of PA.
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