It’s definitely tricky but I was going by what comes to mind for many people. They’re reasonably apprehensive.
I think you’re a cool guy, we have similar taste in music and that’s fantastic… it’s difficult to find those who like metal/rock (esp old school metal)
But I disagree with you’re notion of “cracking down/enforcing prohibition instills enough fear within the teenage populace for them to stop using drugs”… this isn’t the case, people use this shit regardless, I believe persecution should certainly be pushed for those distributing narcotics… but punishing users (for soft drugs) is a bit of a stretch. Given 50%+ of the populace in America/Aus has tried cannabis, in 1978 I believe over 40% of graduates had used coke at some point in their lifetime, the law certainly didn’t prevent (the stat was 48%) them from trying it.
Most teenagers are stupid, impulsive… rules/regulations won’t disparage them… at least from what I’ve seen (and pertaining to myself included)… just about every kid drinks underage here, it’s fairly common for 14-15y/olds to be getting sloshed at parties
Should? I don’t know. Apprehensive, distrusting of them? Reasonably they can be.
I have an alcoholic in my family. You think I want him babysitting despite loving him?
What are you having for breakfast. I generally find oats to be a well rounded, sustainable source of nutrition in the moning
I had eggs and avocado toast. The avocado consumption has me missing mortgage payments.
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This is what I was getting at… those who drink heavily and frequently (alcoholics/ those with AUD) aren’t particularly trustworthy either. Though this is a generalisation… you do get high functioning drug addicts/alcoholics. Perhaps I knew of a heroin addict, kept it hidden for years, had an outstanding work ethic… no one suspected a thing
Hey, if millennials didn’t spend so much on avocados we wouldn’t have such a bad housing crisis regarding young people in Australia!
Avocados are the best though, I love them
With a bit of lemon juice/lime squeezed on top and it’s the GREATEST… or crushed avo on toast.
We should create a thread (not me as I’ve created this one) @BrickHead talking about a farcical society of which we deem “optimal”… This way the conversation could stray away from… drugs
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That might have all of T-mag literally hating me, aside from the dozen or so I’ve met IRL.
I have an explanation that I might be able to type out later.
Why, is it because you’re beliefs of “optimum” differ from others… Like I’ve said, freedom of speech, doesn’t alter who you are as a person (I assume a genuine, intelligent, nice guy)
I don’t think anyone will argue that in a farcical world, intoxicants generally wouldn’t exist… I’d also state all men/women would be highly attractive… secondary sexual characteristics would be highly attenuated. Income/housing would be prevalent for everyone
You’re gong to attack the hell out of me for this… But I believe in CONCEPT (had humanity not been inherently greedy/you’ve got some who will take advantage of herd mentality etc) communism would be optimal (everyone acquiring the same… everything), though optimally here everyone could live a life of luxury. In reality communism doesn’t work, corruption tends to be rampant.
Sorry if my opinions aren’t being extrapolated upon coherently/with detail, 36+ hours with no sleep is starting to induce significant, perceivable cognitive deterioration.
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It doesn’t work because people have different abilities, aptitudes, inclinations, etc, not because some are greedy. And I’m saying this being someone leans to the left economically.
Agreed, but farcically, perhaps within this communistic society everyone is entitled to a life of luxury. In which case, does it really matter? Seven figures is seven figures (income)
I’m going to call it a night… I lied, it’s actually now been… about 44 hours with ZERO sleep, can’t pull another all nighter, my body will start shutting down (anxious in general… familial conflict, the way things are going in general etc)…
Not important, I need the sleep desperately though.
I don’t think itd need to go that far. Just standard cig/alcohol price floor stuff would kill the industry.
What happened to all the bootleggers for booze? Cigs? They got driven out on price quality and ease of access.
Probably, but the good growers are also highly sought after by dispensaries and their supply chains.
My BiLs roommate ‘went legit’ and is working for a dispensary now.
When I was in Vegas last year with the wife we were surprised to find most dispensaries there deliver. They just couldn’t deliver to a casino due to some random law.
I don’t think the black market would die overnight. I think it’d be a slow painful death ala booze bootleggers
Cigarettes don’t get you high and it’s already been noted that the black market for cigarettes is thriving, particularly across state lines.
Illegal hooch is still sold commonly as well.
The Mexican cartels may not be looking to get in on that action, but it’s still there. Just like it always has and like it always will until there aren’t any more incentives to do business off of the books.
Weed is a different commodity. It gets you high and is much more valuable per unit of weight than cigarettes. The weight becomes even more important if you want to compare it to booze.
How much black market booze can you fit in a in a small vehicle? A semi? How much money is there to be made?
You can smuggle weed a lot easier and basic business constraints still apply to the black market. Transportation costs are a major consideration for any enterprise.
Someone is making it worth the cartels time to conduct illegal grow operations on a massive scale in states like CA.
How does that ever go away?
Too many factors to account for, really.
It’s one of those context things. Like a life of context. And I’m not loath to admit that my opinions and the experiences that shaped them are, in some cases, flat out screwed up. You don’t end up where I’ve been doing the things I’ve done without fucking up many many times on multiple levels.
Knowing this myself is why I can fully and readily accept that some people are going to disagree with me. Possibly vehemently.
And they might be right.
Oh yeah, I know what you mean. I’ve had to screen and interview a lot of people for different positions, and just generally in deciding who to even be around and communicate with.
I’m always scanning for different signs and behaviors.
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When I said boring, I meant it. Most Average Joes don’t skydive, hang glide, ride dirt bikes, bungee jump, etc.
Cigarettes satisfy a chemical addiction. It would take quite a bit for me to ever believe the illegal demand for a non addictive substance can touch cigarettes.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t heard a single thing about a thriving cigarette black market. Sounds like it’s scaled down to near uselessness. Even Google isn’t giving me much.
It looks like the entire concept is driven by increasing taxes on it to lower the amount of users. Even with MASSIVE tax hikes it’s nowhere near other black market scales.
Where at? Imo a black market industry doesn’t need to do 0 sales a year to be dead.
Legalize it at the federal level and let the free market do it’s thing. Like every other major product in history.
I’m with you on that, but there are literally NO jurisdictions talking about legalizing and making it tax exempt. Would it hurt the black market? Sure, and it probably has already.
Look at some of the receipts for dispensaries with high taxes. This is where reality is making its way into the conversation.
And it is just part of the reason why MASSIVE black market operations still operate in every jurisdiction where weed has been legalized.
As far as booze and smokes go, well, you gotta know people. Take a job as a dive bar bouncer and you’ll meet some of them.
Booze around here isn’t a huge thing, but $5 packs of Marlboros are. I used to consult in TN and moonshine seemed alive and well, but they still had dry counties ( maybe still do). I took some shine back with me on the plane. Took me about six years before I finished it.
Great stuff.
I’d beg to differ… as someone who practically never smokes (you’ll probably see me with a cigarette in my mouth less than 4 times per year… a cigarette will give me a hell of a head rush, a feeling of relaxation/conentment
I’ve done these… I actually have a dirt bike… it’s pretty fun
50$ here (or 45)
Weed is cheaper here now than ever, you can get good weed for under $10 a gram but people still buy black market weed because it’s cheaper and more convenient.
There is bootleg liquor, you have no idea what you are talking about. Not just moonshine, but untaxed name brand liquor.
You are talking pure shit
“We know [organized crime is] involved in anything where they can make money,” Det. Sgt. Bouvier said. “And you can make a lot of money with contraband tobacco … it’s very, very profitable.”