How does the drug economy effect the U.S. economy of today?
476815
Drugs can get you thru times of no money better then money can get you thru times of no drugs.
736029
I don't think it's fair at all! Even though I don't use either substance, I agree with you 100%. I think at the moment it's a control issue for the Government. If they legalized it right now, they still couldn't keep up with it all because so much is being grown nation wide and there is so much is on the streets. I think they should open up the market for everything. The recreational user will still be the recreational user and the addicts will still be addicts. What does the Government have to loose? Nothing the way I see it, because they will see a new tax base and there will also be plenty of new experimenters turned recreational users. We don't need Uncle Sam telling us what to do and what not to do....especially in the privacy of our own homes!
203771
It is no difference than like the war on drugs, big money. The government can and trying to stop the flow of drugs in this country but do they want it to stop, no. If did they would lose 3/4 of their police force. Within the borders of this great nation they wouldn't be able to seize land and vehicles, hire more personnel, court systems have to layoff 1/2 of their judges, layoff prison guards, quit building more prisons and lawyers will become homeless. It is always about money. Back to the question, for the last 10 years the courts have managed to get lawsuits pass on major cigarette companies for persons dying from cancer. They can no longer sponsor a race car or advertise on TV. But does this really hurt the tobacco industry, no. The government doesn't want to outlaw tobacco, they will no longer collect taxes for them. "Money". I did read somewhere last year of a national report that the young American people now days are less likely to start smoking than like 20 years ago. So if there become less smokers in this country don't worry, taxes always get higher and the sale overseas is still increasing every year.
33799
People who use drugs experience a wide array of physical effects other than those expected. The excitement of a cocaine high, for instance, is followed by a “crash” : a period of anxiety, fatigue, depression, and an acute desire for more cocaine to alleviate the feelings of the crash. Marijuana and alcohol interfere with motor control and are factors in many automobile accidents. Users of marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs may experience flashbacks, unwanted recurrences of the drug's effects weeks or months after use. Sudden abstinence from certain drugs results in withdrawal symptoms. For example, heroin withdrawal can cause vomiting, muscle cramps, convulsions, and delirium. With the continued use of a physically addictive drug, tolerance develops; i.e., constantly increasing amounts of the drug are needed to duplicate the initial effect.\n\n\nBecause the purity and dosage of illegal drugs are uncontrolled, drug overdose is a constant risk. There are over 10,000 deaths directly attributable to drug use in the United States every year; the substances most frequently involved are cocaine, heroin, and morphine, often combined with alcohol or other drugs. Many drug users engage in criminal activity, such as burglary and prostitution, to raise the money to buy drugs, and some drugs, especially alcohol, are associated with violent behavior.
507510
not really,  pot, crack, meth alot depends on the type of client, neighbor you live in, but then people in all levels use all types of drugs,  And often drug dealers are a one stop shop, selling all types ( if someone wants it, they normaly get it)
153110
What is the effect? Double digit unemployment. Lowered tax revenues. Jobs disappearing at an alarming rate. Combine this with socialized medicine and health care and a growing social program saddled with ridiculous deficits, and you can guess the effect it would have on hospitals, police and schools.\n\nAnd this is what people want for the US? I say, "No, thanks!"
864662
It will affect it very positively, over the long haul, provided the dems get their agenda pushed through at some point. Here is why; basic economics.\n\nFirst off, here is a fact; Despite the "pro-business" mantra of most republican administrations and congresses, and most corporations supporting republican candidates for this reason, the stock market actually does better on an annualized basis under a democratic president or congress.\n\nSecond; the war has been the most obscenely needless expense in the last 30 years. The republicans that were in control seemingly forgot one of the most important republican issue, and THE most important non-morality-issue Republicans stand for. Its the basis of the existence of the party; "Smaller government and lower spending." With the US going the way of Orwell's 1984, suddenly the Democrats were the more fiscally responsible choice to make for people who vote with financial reasoning in mind.\n\nLast; odds are good that the dollar will increase in value against foreign currencies  going forward, as people who have been betting in the dollars continued fall against the world basket of currencies because of bad fiscal policy and continued printing of useless fiat currency to finance the war, will likely cover their bets, bringing some value back as people grow more positive the reckless spending will stop. See, to finance the war, the government has been printing money as if that has no effect on the value of our currency, and they do this in the form of debt, (not actual "printing" of hard currency, but for the sake of argument, we'll call it "printing") effectively decreasing the value of a dollar for every dollar they "print". As the perception grows that the war will end sooner rather then later, and the Dems will reign in reckless spending and, even if necessary raise taxes to ensure we stop borrowing from ourselves, the value of the dollar will increase, as there will be less and less of them for every dollar that gets paid off, even if its just on paper.\n\nAnd because of market speculation, this will begin to happen well before any change in policy actually occurs. \n\nFinally, because of the increasing value of the dollar, it will be able to purchase more on the world market, bringing down commodity prices for oil, gold, and anythign else we buy from other countries to keep our country running. Cheaper commodities means more money in consumer and coproate pockets, which means more spending, and more purchasing, and less consumer debt, which in turn causes more wealth creation. A dollar can be spend a hundred times and taxed a hundred times, and still be a dollar. But that dollar brought in more revenue the more it was spendt. More revenue = stronger nation = better economy overall. Plus, if history holds true, people's retirement and investment portfolios will see better increases, creating more wealth and a better standard of living for retirees, as well.\n\n\n********Edited: On a side note, I must say I'm surprised that somebody gave my answer a thumbs down *and probably more to come now) --- y answer is derived from *actual* facts and historical data, along with a knowledgable explanation which, whether you like it or not, is not an outcome I predicted because I hate republicans, or love democrats, or both, (as those are all not true, I hate the concept of the political party altogether,) but rather assembled using an understanding of macroeconomic policy, with at least enough education behind my answer to explain why in the grand scheme of things, this change is more likely to be good then bad. You people are so partisan it absolutely makes me vomit.
85637
The impact of the Iraq war on the US economy
371527
Legalizing would actually in a sense deter alot of the drug problems facing society today.  If the government legalized and regulated drugs, then it would drive out a lot of the black market competition.  Drugs wouldnt be cut with dangerous fillers, a huge revenue would be opened up to the gov., and also the amount given to users would be regulated much like any other prescription. The gov. has spent a ludicrious amount of money fighting the drug war and drug abuse is still rampant. If the government actually regulated it, all of the drug traffiking problems would go away. However society has been taught that this scenario could never work. Yet look at Amsterdam which legalized many drugs much the same way as I described above. And they have some very very low crime rates. Over there drug use, prostitution, and drug sales is all regulated by the gov.
345987
When alcohol was outlawed it gave rise to the Mafia, easy money for people willing to break the law.  The outlawing of pot, cocaine, and LSD has led to the rise of the Cartels, another criminal enterprise.\n\nLegalising all of these drugs would help deter the outrageous profits such a cartel can make in the U.S. market.  Further, government taxation of the sales of such drugs would add money to the treasury.  None of the three mentioned in the question seems to be as hard on the human body and brain as alcohol.  I say legalise.
835502
i take it that you are a pothead ???? your use and possession of drugs do effect me my family and anyone else that may be out on the street with you while you are high...drugs are also a major part in crime which also effects the everyday innocent person!it will also effect the person that you will steal from when you have no other way to pay for your habit and yes it will happen deny it now but it will it always does!
634095
It would open up trade. there would probably be a lot more drug smuggling as well at first but opening the boarders, means opening the doors of communication as well. So the north American and south American governments would have to work together for a change to get rid of those elements. Also we would become more profitable as a nation, because it wouldn't be illegal to work here, so pay would go up for immigrants seeking work here, they in turn send or bring money home building their economy, and that country builds schools and factories, with better paying jobs for their citizens, turning them into CONSUMERS...Who in turn vacation in America, and buy American goods and products, making us an exporter not just an importer...meaning small time shops in America can now sell goods across both continents openly and become big time shops....See how it trickles down. Like you said Europe has done it and been successful.
513372
You ask a fair question. I agree with you- you would think that in an "advanced country" such as this that we would have learned something from the "Prohibition". \nFar too much of our jail and prison space has been filled up with people who's only crime was that they "got high". Yet prescription drug addicts and alcoholics are not sanctioned in this way. To me, it goes against what it says in our Constitution (regarding "cruel and unusual punishment") to lock people up for that. They are already hurting. We could really learn something from other countries who have legalized certain drugs. (Such as Holland, for instance.) After their legalization, crime rates dropped, tax-payers dollars were saved, families kept intact, substances being used became safer to use, and contrary to what some may believe, usage rates did not "go up". More money was spent on treatment, and the "black market" (along with all the other crime that is attached to that) was virtually eliminated. Why can't this country see the benefits of legalization? The "War on Drugs" is just as "ambiguous" as the "War on Terrorism".  We can't "win" it. We must learn and implement better ways of dealing with these issues. Or, both "wars" are going to leave us "bankrupt" and still without an "end" solution in sight.\n-Tera (time4u420@yahoo)
552618
right NOW my job is quite secure... but it's impossible to predict the impact the economy might have on it down the road.\n\nthe effect snowballs as people have less disposable income, and they spend less on non-essential items (such as eating out: i work in a restaurant.)  fewer customers lead to fewer employees needed, so the ones that remain are forced to work harder to cover the slack.  and as the cost of the raw materials (in this case food) increases due in part to higher transportation costs, the profit margin shrinks to a barely manageable level.  \n\nit is a scary time for small business owners and employees alike.  a one-word description for the way i feel about the whole economy is "cautious"... we are in uncharted waters.
1004985
bad effects: costs money, organized crime involvement, spreads desease, etc.\ngood effects: Guess!
673804
Legalize/tax/regulate recreational drugs..pulls the profits out of the hands of the cartels, taxes pay for rehab and education, no more turf wars over who can sling rocks on a street corner.
777813
drugs are the worst thing that can and does distroy all aspects of life. they are the cause of most crime from petty to top of the tree. you only have to have known somebody who has or is drug dependant to understand what i mean. as for culture, sadly it has become trendy to take drugs. all dealers should be hung because they are the destroyers of social collapse