Legalize it: The tourism slant

[2liveque]

Preliminary reports show that Colorado tourist reservations are experiencing a sonic boom since legalization took place. With tourism being Hawaii's bread and butter, can legalization be looming on the horizon? With world class beaches. World class coffee. And now, legal, world class green? The impacts legalization will have on tourism cannot be overstated. If you think Colorado is having it good....wait 'till they get a taste of what the island state has to offer.

With great $$$ to be made. Weed tourism may be just too good for Hawaii's leaders to pass up.

[PaulW]

Good point. With that and gay marriage, let the good times roll!

[2liveque]

haaaa! The good times have been rolling. We just want it to be legal now. haaaaaaa.

[kalakoa]

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With great $$$ to be made. Weed tourism may be just too good for Hawaii's leaders to pass up.

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Why would the State want to give up all that "free" Federal helicopter joyride money?

Yes, it's entirely possible that the tourism revenue would be "more", but it would also require people to actually work for it...

[kjlpahoa]

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Originally posted by kalakoa

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With great $$$ to be made. Weed tourism may be just too good for Hawaii's leaders to pass up.

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Why would the State want to give up all that "free" Federal helicopter joyride money?

To get the tax revenues

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[2liveque]

That "free helicopter joyride money" is microscopic peanuts compared to the tourist money to be made from legalization. In the history of Green Harvest, cops trumped everyone. Their labeling of Hawaii being a major "drug producing" region trumped any counter argument...even from the likes of Adler, Christie, Anderson and Kondo. In this day and age however, Money is God. Money rules. Money will trump cops. Legalization is already proving fruitful in WA and CO.

[Guest]

The issue comes down to this. Keeping pot illegal feeds, at a huge cost to the taxpayer, a "criminal justice system" that includes court mandated rehab and incarceration.

Legalization, in addition to virtually eliminating the above as it relates to marijuana prosecution, brings in a whole new revenue stream - of what could be millions of dollars - of which, very little would go to feed the "criminal justice system."

Only when the "good ole boy" network realizes this - it will become a reality here.

Don't you find it very ironic that the two football teams headed to the Super Bowl come from the two States that have taken the higher ground of intellect, common sense and doing the right thing?

[ericlp]

The good ol boy network. Yep.. Kinda like having a ban on big box stores... They really not in it for what the people want. But how much federal or state dollars they can grab onto regardless.

But I don't think even if Billy wanted to legalize it ... It would have to come from Oahu legislation and be passed down right?

[kalakoa]

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Legalization, in addition to virtually eliminating the above as it relates to marijuana prosecution, brings in a whole new revenue stream - of what could be millions of dollars - of which, very little would go to feed the "criminal justice system."

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Making my point for me: it's not about overall "dollars", it's about control of those dollars and the ability to arbitrarily ruin peoples' lives. Because "drugs are bad", and "trust us, we know what we're doing".

[David M]

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Originally posted by Ken

The issue comes down to this. Keeping pot illegal feeds, at a huge cost to the taxpayer, a "criminal justice system" that includes court mandated rehab and incarceration.

Legalization, in addition to virtually eliminating the above as it relates to marijuana prosecution, brings in a whole new revenue stream - of what could be millions of dollars - of which, very little would go to feed the "criminal justice system."

Only when the "good ole boy" network realizes this - it will become a reality here.

Don't you find it very ironic that the two football teams headed to the Super Bowl come from the two States that have taken the higher ground of intellect, common sense and doing the right thing?

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Excellent point, unfortunately one very rarely acknowledged. The so called criminal justice system is the biggest racket in the nation. And we are talking law abiding citizens as well as the others.

Consider:
How many different jurisdictions have the authority to cite you for something. That citation will almost undoubtedly cost you money, be it a relatively small fee or fine you pay voluntarily on up to the full blown criminal process.

How many of the above cause you to spend money outside of the actual process, even if just advice or some preemptive action. We are all subject to more laws this year than last, even more next and the next as all these governing entities justify their existence. So much for Land of the Free!!!!!

How many of the above will cause $$ to flow to an attorney?

Now add in the government side, all the employees, judges, prosecutors, clerks, admin, jailer, probation officers, cops, sheriffs, deputies, the facilities, on and on.

Most people never stop to appreciate this and are awestruck when they do. What a shame there appears to be no way to capture the total $$ impact on our lives.

Pretty easy to see how big the illegal drug aspect of this pie. Pretty much in the news day after day. Now consider how much would be lost with legalization. Will be interesting how this shakes out in those states that choose to legalize.

I personally would consider it a beneficial $$ shift for our society.

David

Ninole Resident
Please visit vacation.ninolehawaii.com