Headline of the day: "Move to Legalize Marijuana in California Sparks Fears About Drop in Prices"

I like this headline. I didn't know that growers of marijuana were fearful of price drops but also have trouble seeing the downside of making this more competitive. Here are the basics: There's a ballot issue coming up in California that would make it legal for a person to possess up to 1 oz of dope and cultivate on a piece of land no bigger than 25 sq feet. For perspective, look around the room or office you're currently sitting in. 25 sq ft is not much bigger and in most cases, a heck-of-a lot smaller than where you are sitting now.

So here's the concern for the growers. They haven't had to face competition before because marijuana is illegal. (Please note I and the entire staff of The Coughing Dog are not taking a stand on this issue, only reporting a funny headline). They're worried that once every stoner is allowed to grow their own crop that they won't be buying off their local dealer anymore, flooding the market with a huge new supply of grass, thus bringing demand and prices down.

One casual observation: Isn't some of what makes the criminal activity of selling drugs attractive to people the fact that they make a lot of money? So, does it not stand to reason that this could potentially reduce the number of drug dealers out there and the risky, criminal and dangerous activities that those particular people involve themselves in? Just sayin'...

Again, I'm not taking a stand on this issue and I'm surely not a voter in California. I do think it's funny that pot growers in Northern California have organized a meeting with local officials, business people and others to assess the potential impact of this ballot measure. Can anyone say FEDS!!!! Feels like this is a baited trap to me.

Regardless, I will enjoy watching the outcome of this debate and the imminent right wing buffoonery that will result if a measure like this passes (I can already see the claims for "the end of humanity" from Fox "News" when I close my eyes).

Side note, as I first read this from today's NY Times, here's my favorite comment from below the article (thanks Riick from LA):

California...knows how to party.
California...knows how to party.
In the citaaay of L.A.
In the citaaay of good ol' Watts.
In the citaaay, the city of Compton.
We keep it rocking. We keep it rocking.

Riick

LA

March 23rd, 2010

12:38 pm