Pubdate: Tue, 04 Oct 2005
Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat (AZ Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Arizona Daily Wildcat
Contact:  http://wildcat.arizona.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/725
Author: David Lane
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1571/a03.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

HOMEGROWN CANNABIS WOULD PREVENT PRICE HIKES

The authors of "The burning question: Legalize marijuana?" reach a 
conclusion that if cannabis were legal it would support the Latin American 
markets and crime associated with them. This is ridiculous.

If cannabis were legal to grow, there would be so many home growers that 
virtually everyone who wanted to obtain cannabis would know someone who was 
growing it.  The price would be nowhere near the $300 per ounce figure they 
quote. High-quality hand-manicured cannabis buds would still cost from $50 
to $100 an ounce, largely due to the time involved in curing and trimming 
the buds.

Latin American cannabis is usually of a low quality because of the drying 
and processing methods employed. No educated cannabis user would ever 
choose to purchase the inferior product if high-quality domestic product 
were available for comparable prices. While it is not a practice for people 
to grow their own tobacco to compete with cigarette companies, it is 
completely feasible with cannabis. I know this shoots down one of the 
arguments for legalization, that tax revenues would be realized, but it is 
a fact nonetheless.

David Lane

Santa Cruz, Calif. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D