[Schneed10]

Unfortunately I had to be away from the computer from 5:15 until now, and was disengaged from the conversation, and now there are way too many points to counter. But I'll address a couple:

If you guys want to argue with me on economics, you're probably better off arguing with me on salary cap issues. Yes, weed can be grown in any moderate climate. Yes, it can be grown in a garage. But it can be grown much more cheaply in South America, where there is already infrastructure set up with vast fields used to grow the stuff. Here in the states we would require capital investment to clear fields, irrigate, plant, grow, and harvest. That requires money. We could use fields that we're already using for tobacco or any other crop, but the net effect on our GDP would be zero, as any revenues generated by the weed fields would be offset by the corresponding loss in revenues in tobacco.

The guy using hydrophonic lamps is using electricity to produce the pot, which isn't nearly as cost-effective as letting the sun shine on it. His cost per unit is much higher than South America's. But from an economic standpoint, I'm not interested in talking about the guys who would grow it in their garage, collectively they wouldn't produce enough weed to make a dent in the nation's demand. If weed became legalized, big business would take over and produce it in mass quantities. South America already has fields, equipment, irrigation, and the process set up to grow and produce the stuff at a marginal cost that is much lower than we could here in the US. One big reason: land in the US is much more expensive than in south America. We could generate pot here in the states for sure, but once Phillip Morris realizes that South America has them beat on labor costs (Columbians will work for 25 cents an hour), the cost of land, and the capital investments required, Phillip Morris will quickly decide not to push forward with a major pot-growing initiative. The nation will still end up importing most of it's pot, and as I said before, the trade deficit broadens, and the dollar weakens.

I don't care if you "buy it" or not, that's what would happen. Go find your friendly neighborhood economics professor and ask him. I know we have several guys around here with MBAs besides me, go ahead, do a SWOT analysis on the American pot industry assuming it were legal. There are too many barriers to entry to compete in a global market.

Secondly, Matty, I've seen recent information saying weed is being found with crystal meth scattered throughout. Crystal meth is made so cheaply (like out of Sudafed), dealers don't mind using it to lace. I'll try to find links because I know this statement is worthless without supporting documentation.

As for my problems with the healthcare system, and I have many given that I work for a chain of hospitals and see the whole gory picture, yeah there's something wrong with a family of 6 paying the same insurance premium as a family of 3. There are more people to cover, you should pay more if you're covering more people. Secondly, a non-smoker shouldn't have to pay as much as a smoker. Life insurance costs more if you smoke, why not the same for health insurance? Smokers are a bigger drain on the healthcare system's financial resources, why should I (a non smoker) get the same rates as him, thereby helping to bear the burden that people like him are causing?