Showing up for work under the influence will get you fired most places. The OP makes a false conclusion of a better economy.
Yeah, showing up drunk will get you fired too. But where in the article did he advocate that people show up to work under the influence of any recreational substance? That is a false argument. It is not a false conclusion. Marijuana prohibition has been costly in many aspects of our society not just the economy.
The problem with that argument is, it derives from a false premise.
I mean we could just as easily look at how much the prohibition to murder costs, but that's hardly the POINT.
The point being does society want to tolerate murder or let it run rampant?
Potheads then argue that marijauna is victimless but that is a narcissistic argument TO THE EXTREME.
Anyone living in Columbia or Mexico will tell you the trade HAS PLENTY OF VICTIMS.
The same people who will cry about letting illegal immigrants come into the country freely will take another toke and turn a blind eye to how many of them ARE KILLED so he can toke that blunt.
Domestic pot growing might cut into that blood shed on the American side.
BUT . .
Then I could go into the studies who have found smokers more likely to have mental illness, decreased intelligence, heightened emotions.
Any commodity designed to cause intoxication or a "buzz" as tokers call it, is going to cause effects on the brain.
Now you guys can believe that comes without consquences all you want. I don't buy it. Take a look at topspin!
I haven't met a pot smoker yet that didn't suffer some cognitive loss.
The smoker is always last to know it.
That's not victimless.
I also find it HIGHLY hypocritical that the same people FOR pot smoking are usually AGAINST cigarette smoking.
Anyone want to look at the cost to try and keep cigarettes out of the hands of people?
I don't see ANYONE complaining about that!