A motivating factor for some legislators and voters who favor legalization is a well-intentioned desire to raise government revenue. After all, why let the drug dealers and cartels make all the money in a time of depleted budgets?
Unfortunately, neither states nor the federal government can expect any net gain with marijuana legalization. In fact, legalization will cost America. For every $1 in state and federal revenue from alcohol and tobacco taxes, America spends more than $10 in social costs, according to a complication of US government and other studies cited by the White House. Additionally, two major business lobbies – big tobacco and the liquor lobby – work hard to keep taxes on these drugs from rising and to promote use. The last thing the country needs is the “Marlboroization of marijuana.” But that is exactly what we can expect if we let marijuana into the open marketplace.
