This includes everything from the gardener who gets cash for mowing your lawn to the heroin dealer who gets cash for his drugs. Taxes are not paid on any aspect of the underground economy.
The largest section of the underground economy in the US is marijuana sales, which is estimated to be $142 billion per year. My guess is that this is grossly underestimated. Berkeley, California is demanding $6 million in back sales taxes for ONE medical marijuana clinic.
SIX or SEVEN presidential commissions have recommended legalizing marijuana. Marijuana has never been proven to have killed a single individual. Marijuana is not physically addictive. Marijuana is a useful medication for many different illnesses.
STUDY AFTER STUDY shows that ILLEGAL drugs are MUCH MORE AVAILABLE to teenagers than LEGAL drugs, like alcohol.
In New York City, the majority of arrests are for possession of marijuana, even though marijuana is supposed to be decriminalized. 86% of those arrested for marijuana in NYC are Black or Latino. (73.4% of NYC is White.)
Our colleges and universities do not have enough money to run, but law enforcement is STILL arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning people for marijuana. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THIS WASTEFUL POLICY.
Republicans want to save money and make the federal government smaller. Take marijuana off schedule 1 and leave the decision up to the states. Make the Drug Enforcement Agency MUCH SMALLER. Let all of those in federal prison for marijuana possession, growth, and sales OUT OF PRISON.
As we found out during alcohol prohibition, making something illegal does not stop people from using it. STOP WASTING MONEY on trying in vain to keep people from using marijuana. Our colleges and our schools need money badly. WE DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO WASTE.
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