There are so many ramifications to the legalizaion of marijuana (and other drugs) it frightens me to think about it. It would have far reaching economic consequences that few people have thought about. Law enforcement, the courts, prison system, Customs Agency, DEA, Coast Guard, national economy of Columbia, Peru, Mexico, Thailand, Burma all would be affected with world shaking results.

Consider our own Western Carolina Mountains. The climate and soil there is perfect. What would happen if all those growers in Watauga county stopped production of Christmas trees and turned to marijuana. Soon the mountains would be bright green with hemp fields. Traffic in Boone and Asheville would become unbearable. We would see an influx of tourists that we wouldnt' be able to believe. I can forsee weed tastings, just like wine tastings in Napa Valley.

The value placed on illegal drugs is 99% inflated because of their illegal status. Risks and difficulties must be factored into the price. Without these risks, there would be a drastic reduction in the amount of money generated by the industry, forcing many millions of third world citizens back into their original state of poverty. This would help to create more jealousy and hatred of the United States.

Marijuana grows quite well in much of the U.S. and importation from Columbia, Jamaica, and Mexico would become an economicaly unfeasable exercise. With the U.S. market out of the picture in these countries many U.S. industries would be shattered, sending thousands into the unemployment line. The ofshore power-boat industry would be the first to suffer. Then the personal aircraft industry feels the pinch. GE and Kenmore would face hard times because their exports of garbage compactors would dry up wither away. Even the fishing industry would suffer from depleted resources with such a massive number of boats re-dedicated to fishing instead of drug importation. I can't imagine what would happen to the luxury car market, especialy in south Florida. The auto industry would face massive lay-off's for a short period while the economic impacts sorted themselves out and found an equilibrium.

Customs and DEA would have much less work and would face massive lay-offs of their agents. Those officials still remaining would suffer serious economic woes as their pay-off money shrinks to nothing.

Off shore banking and money laundering industries such as in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Switzerland could be shattered to the point of collapse.

At home, police officers would have to be reassigned to protecting the safety of the people in stead of protecting them from themselves. Without the stiff price of illegal drugs forcing many users into a life of crime, we would experience a drastic drop in robbery, burglary, muggings, theft, and even the murder rate. Then we would have to think about what to do with all the prison space we have built up over the years. The prison industry, its support industries, and all the corrections officers would feel the pain of downsizing.

What about the firearms industry? It depends on the cops and the bad guys for a major portion of its income. Without the cops and druggies needing so many guns, the average citizen would feel more secure and would be much less likely to feel the need to buy. Colt, Marlin, Baretta, Walther, Ruger could all go suffer greatly and maybe go out of business.

What would happen to all the criminal defense attourneys in this country? Court clerks?

Most frightening of all would be the inflationary pressure on the dollar when all those billions floating around the world in underground economies come home to roost.

These are just a few thoughts that occured to me one day when contemplating the the penalties for the posession of a plant that grows wild on many parts of the Earth.