FIGAROVOX / MAINTENANCE – A report by the think tank Terra Nova, the legalization of cannabis would be an economic opportunity for the state. Serge Lebigot puts one on guard against human and moral cost of such a decision.
Serge Lebigot is the president of the association Parents against drugs. He has written Cannabis: What parents need to know, and Black Dossier cannabis
FigaroVox. Le Monde reveals Friday a report from the think tank Terra Nova, close to the Socialist Party, which advocates the legalization of the sale of cannabis in a public monopoly. What do you think
Serge LEBIGOT: The subject returns cyclically. Every 2 years is revived by a few belated 68.
Does it raises a moral issue?
This is not only a moral issue, but also a matter of protecting youth.
According to the report, the total legalization in a public monopoly would yield about 1.3 billion euros, while the fight against cannabis currently costs € 568 million yearly to the state. The economic argument should it be considered
This report forgets to say is:
What THC will be approved for cannabis OTC?
What information will they use to determine what should be the THC?
How will they sell it cheaper than cannabis dealers by taxing?
The taxes generated by alcohol and tobacco are far from covering health spending much less the human costs.
If dealers sell cheaper, why would they go consumers buy in legal stores? And if the state sells cheaper than dealers, what will be the amount of taxes that will collect? Will they be sufficient to cushion the economic and social costs (health, treatment, prevention, strengthening of new laws and regulations, administrations, etc.) hazards incident marked increase in the use and abuse of cannabis?
How will they do to make this different from what happens with alcohol and tobacco?
The taxes generated by alcohol and tobacco are far from covering health spending much less the human cost.
It is naïve to believe that the situation will be different in the case of cannabis.
The state therefore derive no profit, but in addition, taxpayers will suffer the disadvantages of their so-called freedom. As for the tens of thousands of young people sacrificed, be left to the care of families cry.
Do they think really that cannabis trafficking decline and most of the existing resellers seek legitimate employment. On the contrary, most dealers just think that more cannabis will create a much larger market for cannabis high dose THC and other drugs. Adolescents who have not yet reached the age to go to these points of legal sales, then become the target of the black market
The ban does not reach its goal.: the part of users in France is one of the highest in Europe: 8.64% in France in 15-64, against 7% in the Netherlands and 2.7% in Portugal, two countries where consumption cannabis is decriminalized … Beyond its moral aspect, this issue should it not be treated in terms of efficiency?
The share in France is high because unlike other countries there is no prevention. Be aware that parents’ associations do not have the right to go to school. What about the associations will often they are the same who advocate the legalization of cannabis. And then we are surprised with the results.
By legalizing cannabis, the state will become the partner of criminal groups. So the cannabis trade and money laundering can no longer be effectively combated
Let’s look at a country that has a successful drug policy. Sweden. As Portugal and the Netherlands look at the use of other drugs such as cocaine and heroin, is far from the announced success.
What do you recommend? Are there no alternatives to prohibition?
Everything must be on prevention and access from the earliest age (primary prevention).
In the world, the drug trade is in the hands of organized crime. He made large profits when many flows of goods. Each drug prohibition lifted, there are more people who use drugs and those who are already addicts consume larger quantities. This was the case with opium in China in the nineteenth century. Legalization thus increases precipitously profits of organized crime. By legalizing cannabis, the state will become the partner of criminal groups. So the cannabis trade and money laundering can not be combated effectively. These are the organized criminal networks internationally who will be the major profiteers, consumers and their families will have to bear the consequences.
No comments:
Post a Comment