General Discussion

Recursion

(56,582 posts) Wed Jun 26, 2013, 09:03 AM Jun 2013

What would currently-illegal drugs look like if produced by corporations? [View all]

This is my main trouble with the idea of legalization.

On the one hand, I'm a fan of regulation in general. But regulation has a history of favoring large corporations over small ones (which is why the large meat packers often support stronger regs: they can afford them and their smaller competitors can't). So assuming we add a regulatory regime to a legalization, I don't see a way around ending up with RJR and companies like them owning 90% of the market and doing to marijuana, cocaine, whatever, what they did with tobacco. The mind shudders.

Not regulating anything is, to me, a non-starter, but maybe it makes more sense to some people. Every shyster with a grow lamp producing God-knows-what treated with God-knows-what. The mind shudders.

55 replies

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What would currently-illegal drugs look like if produced by corporations? [View all] Recursion Jun 2013 OP

It's a valid point - OTHO Democracyinkind Jun 2013 #1

But imagine the reality of a regulatory scheme Recursion Jun 2013 #5

Yes, that's true. Democracyinkind Jun 2013 #7

I'm not seeing this. StrayKat Jun 2013 #6

The regs are definitely a valid point, as Recursion expressed above. Democracyinkind Jun 2013 #8

It's not about getting to market first. Xithras Jun 2013 #10

I'm not so sure. JW2020 Jun 2013 #11

Lol Xithras Jun 2013 #13

agri-biz would be smarter to cultivate hemp RainDog Jun 2013 #34

Sooner, rather than later, someone would breed a version good for both. hunter Jun 2013 #40

do you know how many generations you need to produce a stable genetics? RainDog Jun 2013 #41

"Roundup Ready" Monsanto genetically engineered hemp... hunter Jun 2013 #43

you don't know much about this issue, do you? RainDog Jun 2013 #46

Um... hunter Jun 2013 #49

um... RainDog Jun 2013 #50

Hemp paper, awesome, better than tree paper... hunter Jun 2013 #52

Grow your own...car RainDog Jun 2013 #54

Surely a valid point. Democracyinkind Jun 2013 #12

Yes, I've wondered this myself. StrayKat Jun 2013 #2

Back room treatments have always been serious issues for illegal drugs. geckosfeet Jun 2013 #3

Theres not really a way to "cut" mj though. At least not if you want repeat business. Erose999 Jun 2013 #16

? I am sure plenty of weed has been soaked or sprayed with something nasty. geckosfeet Jun 2013 #51

I believe in Colorado the sellers must grow at least 70% of the weed they sell 1-Old-Man Jun 2013 #4

Versus 800,000 arrests a year RainDog Jun 2013 #9

Well yeah, sure. But that isn't nearly as entertaining as an OP. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #35

I once heard that Big Tobacco had trademarked common trade names like "Northern Lights" and "Kush" Erose999 Jun 2013 #14

You guys are really pushing this fake talking point RainDog Jun 2013 #15

It's the regulations that make the huge corporations possible Recursion Jun 2013 #19

LOL RainDog Jun 2013 #23

I have, and they won't last a second once growing pot becomes legal Recursion Jun 2013 #24

Fear-mongering is always a strategy RainDog Jun 2013 #27

If I supported keeping it criminal, you would have a point Recursion Jun 2013 #29

Why shouldn't a plant be legal? RainDog Jun 2013 #30

Decriminalization keeps marijuana illegal RainDog Jun 2013 #39

Legalize all drugs, let them be marketed the same as any other drug. Rod Walker Jun 2013 #17

No thank you on that Recursion Jun 2013 #18

It's a largely moot point. While marijuana is (slowly) being legalized, I don't think you'll see Rod Walker Jun 2013 #20

We already have opioid and heroin derivatives in wide use. StrayKat Jun 2013 #28

Something along those lines might well develop in the future. Rod Walker Jun 2013 #31

Well the various governments could tax the shit out of them. MicaelS Jun 2013 #21

Like bathtub gin was always more fun than Gordon's (nt) Nye Bevan Jun 2013 #22

so the solution is to keep them illegal? Locrian Jun 2013 #25

You think your local micro grower will be allowed to stay open? Recursion Jun 2013 #26

How are craft beer markets able to stay open? RainDog Jun 2013 #32

And that took decades Recursion Jun 2013 #33

Cannabis is more like beer than tobacco RainDog Jun 2013 #38

I agree you have a really valid concern... Locrian Jun 2013 #36

It is better than keeping what we have now, I agree Recursion Jun 2013 #37

Here's the reality of the big biz market for cannabis products RainDog Jun 2013 #42

it would be tough to monopolize a "weed" that could grow almost anywhere yurbud Jun 2013 #44

+1.. it's about the easiest damn thing in the world to grow.. SomethingFishy Jun 2013 #45

legalization would also save lives in Mexico. Nobody gets beheaded over beer turf yurbud Jun 2013 #55

In pain? Unbearably sad? Try Obliviatine from BigPharm Drugs. MineralMan Jun 2013 #47

Sluggish? Unmotivated? MineralMan Jun 2013 #48

In Vietnam during the war we could buy weed rolled in Parliament upaloopa Jun 2013 #53