poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 11,543
Legalise dope in Queensland? Can Do
Campbell Newman likes to put himself about as a friend of business, a champion of free enterprise. But Mr Premier, you are no friend of the markets. And for a bloke forever whining about your predecessors leaving naught in the public purse but moths and lint, you’re leaving easy money on the table.
Good clean drug money.
Drugs war's over, Can Do. Regulation, prohibition, big government? They lost. We lost. And now it’s time to rebuild, by which I mean, it’s time to ching-ching-ching cash in.
The United States was and is the crucible of the global drug war. It was the US which militarised anti-drug policy, and the US where the white flag has now been run up. Twenty states at last count have legalised the use of marijuana for medical purposes, creating a grey market with millions of smokers now beholden to their doctor for a prescription, as they once would have been to their dealer for a good score.
It was always a halfway measure, however, and as of New Year’s Day this year the facade came down when Colorado simply legalised the business of retailing dope, issuing licenses for up to thirty stores. Locals can buy an ounce, interstate visitors (and presumably tourists from overseas) can have a quarter ounce. It’s still illegal to smoke in public, which is good health policy, and the businesses are forced to deal in cash or bitcoin because federally regulated banks are not allowed to offer them credit facilities.
Even so, they pay tax. Lots and lots of tax.
And here?
Despite a third of the adult population having had a choof at some point, and even though millions of otherwise utterly boring citizens incriminate themselves at least once a week by firing up the bong, we persist in fighting an American-led war from which the US is rapidly retreating. It’s the policy equivalent of staying and fighting in Afghanistan after the US pulls out because, er, it’s worked out so well for us so far.
Perhaps, Can Do, if you need a last push over the edge in legalising and taxing one of the biggest cash crops in Australia the tidy profits made by outlaw motorcycle gangs running semi-legal dope out of South Australia in the past might help. Remember bikies? The motorised horsemen of the apocalypse? It was the profits from the dope trade which helped them build out their infrastructure to diversify into harder and even more profitable drugs. Take that money off them, Can Do. Teach those nasty men a lesson.
Queensland grows some of the best marijuana in the world, organic bush buds to put the filthiest hydro to shame. Be proud of this, big guy. Boast about it. Tell the world about it. Grow it, sell it and tax it, and they will come.
The Treasury needs this Mr Premier. The tourism industry needs it. And having given up the grog to get rid of my Christmas pudding, I need it, sir. Indeed, you might even find you were a little less, er, uptight, with a few hits off the bong too.
And those drunken idiots turning 'our streets' into a 'war zone'? After a few lungfuls of the Atherton Tableland's finest they won't even be able to get out of their bean bags.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/com...land-can-do-20140114-30rd9.html#ixzz2qPQ2TT6Z
Campbell Newman likes to put himself about as a friend of business, a champion of free enterprise. But Mr Premier, you are no friend of the markets. And for a bloke forever whining about your predecessors leaving naught in the public purse but moths and lint, you’re leaving easy money on the table.
Good clean drug money.
Drugs war's over, Can Do. Regulation, prohibition, big government? They lost. We lost. And now it’s time to rebuild, by which I mean, it’s time to ching-ching-ching cash in.
The United States was and is the crucible of the global drug war. It was the US which militarised anti-drug policy, and the US where the white flag has now been run up. Twenty states at last count have legalised the use of marijuana for medical purposes, creating a grey market with millions of smokers now beholden to their doctor for a prescription, as they once would have been to their dealer for a good score.
It was always a halfway measure, however, and as of New Year’s Day this year the facade came down when Colorado simply legalised the business of retailing dope, issuing licenses for up to thirty stores. Locals can buy an ounce, interstate visitors (and presumably tourists from overseas) can have a quarter ounce. It’s still illegal to smoke in public, which is good health policy, and the businesses are forced to deal in cash or bitcoin because federally regulated banks are not allowed to offer them credit facilities.
Even so, they pay tax. Lots and lots of tax.
And here?
Despite a third of the adult population having had a choof at some point, and even though millions of otherwise utterly boring citizens incriminate themselves at least once a week by firing up the bong, we persist in fighting an American-led war from which the US is rapidly retreating. It’s the policy equivalent of staying and fighting in Afghanistan after the US pulls out because, er, it’s worked out so well for us so far.
Perhaps, Can Do, if you need a last push over the edge in legalising and taxing one of the biggest cash crops in Australia the tidy profits made by outlaw motorcycle gangs running semi-legal dope out of South Australia in the past might help. Remember bikies? The motorised horsemen of the apocalypse? It was the profits from the dope trade which helped them build out their infrastructure to diversify into harder and even more profitable drugs. Take that money off them, Can Do. Teach those nasty men a lesson.
Queensland grows some of the best marijuana in the world, organic bush buds to put the filthiest hydro to shame. Be proud of this, big guy. Boast about it. Tell the world about it. Grow it, sell it and tax it, and they will come.
The Treasury needs this Mr Premier. The tourism industry needs it. And having given up the grog to get rid of my Christmas pudding, I need it, sir. Indeed, you might even find you were a little less, er, uptight, with a few hits off the bong too.
And those drunken idiots turning 'our streets' into a 'war zone'? After a few lungfuls of the Atherton Tableland's finest they won't even be able to get out of their bean bags.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/com...land-can-do-20140114-30rd9.html#ixzz2qPQ2TT6Z
