The most frequently used argument for legalizing argument--it appears in California's official ballot explanation--is that marijuana is already widely used, even though illegal. If it's use would be legalized, costs of law enforcement would be reduced and the government could tax it, increasing tax revenues. On this childish argument, we could legalize a whole bevy of illegal behaviors and tax them. No jail terms. No messy trials about guilt. Just taxes.
Car drivers often exceed speed limit. Solution: end speed limits. Instead, establish tax zones.
- Speeders 60-70 mph and caught are taxed $5000 per occasion;
- Speeders 71-80 mph, $10,000 per occasion;
- Speeders 81+ mph, $50,000 per occasion.
Drunk driving is illegal. Solution: end drunk driving laws. Instead, establish tax zones per blood alcohol.
- Drunk with blood alcohol 0.08-0.10%, caught, are taxed $20,000 per occasion;
- Drunk 0.11-0.15% blood alcohol, $50,000 per occasion;
- Drunk 0.16+ blood alcohol, $100,000 per occasion.
Domestic abuse is illegal. Whoa! Inconvenient. Battery in the home is so context dependent. Hey, you know, with Sharia coming, and all. Avoid all that inconvenient police investigations, prosecution, court supervision of separation and/or divorce, child custody, and on. Legalize domestic violence and tax it!!
- Male adult slapping female adult, bruising, no broken skin or bones, $10,000 per occasion, plus reimbursement of public medical expenses;
- Male adult beating female adult, shoving, resulting in bleeding, internal organ injury, broken limbs, $100,000 per occasion, plus reimbursement of public medical expenses;
- Male adult killing female adult, $1,000,000 per occasion, plus reimbursement of public funeral costs.
- Additional episodes taxed at $10 million per.
- Female adult slapping male adult, bruising, no broken skin or bones, $1,000 per occasion, plus reimbursement of public medical expenses;
- Female adult beating male adult, shoving, resulting in bleeding, internal organ injury, broken limbs, $10,000 per occasion, plus reimbursement of public medical expenses;
- Female adult killing male adult, $500,000 per occasion, plus reimbursement of public funeral costs.
- Additional episodes taxed at $1 million per.
See how stupid this argument is.
Oh, well, marijuana legalization advocates would object, marijuana consumption harms no one. Well, that notion is false, as well as stupid. Alcoholism is the appropriate model. Alcoholism harms family members and persons with whom the alcoholic has responsibilities. No one denies this. Marijuana inebriation and addiction will similarly harm family members and persons with whom the pothead has responsibilities.
See how stupid this argument is.
California has lost its mind.
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