The Money Behind Marijuana

        The fact that weed helps medicinally and is used for recreational purposes are the only ones that reach the world's attention. No one ever truly thinks about where/how teens get the money to buy it secretly. No one ever truly thinks of the profit this plant can make. Well, that's what I'm here to do today.

        CIBC World Markets (finally, a source relevant to Canada) said that the country's provincial and federal government could make up to $5 billion annually from selling marijuana legally. (1) That is a whole lot of money, especially on one thing! But that's not even the best part. What's amazing is that Justin Trudeau not only vows to legalize, regulate, and tax this product, but all revenue will serve for public health and addiction problems. ISN'T THAT GREAT?! More money towards a cause that is pretty important! And maybe, just maybe, if the government is getting that much money from the cannabis industry, they might cut taxes people pay from their pay cheques! WE SAVE MONEY BECAUSE THERE'S MORE MONEY COMING IN! (I think that's how the economy works. I'm in 10th grade).

        Let's look at the American side, since they obviously have more experience than us.

In a month, Colorado collected $13 million dollars in tax revenue. (2) IN A MONTH! That's crazy cash, even though I think that month was one of the earlier months of when pot was legalized. In a year, they collected, in total, $996 million.(2) Even though this is a total, there are a whole lot of taxes on marijuana right now, especially since it's so new, so most of that goes to the government. WOAH. They made lots of money AND WE COULD TOO! YOU HEAR THAT JUSTIN?!
*screams and jumps on Parliament hill hoping to get Prime Minister's attention*

        Just kidding. Trudeau's government said they'd legalize marijuana during their time in office; I just hope that they get to this obviously more pressing issue first.

        I'm bluffing, relax.
       
Now, people may be concerned that marijuana will still cause problems with the law because people like to be hush-hush (or should I say, hash-hash? No? OK.) about their business. The Liberal Party of Canada released a draft (2) saying that black market marijuana issues won't be there anymore because they will assure that their pot is just as good or even better than anything you can buy on the street. Also, it'll definitely be cheaper and they will further regulate importation and exportation (meaning there isn't any). They will make legal punishments more severe and they will even allow people to grow some marijuana at home.





Monday, April 4th, 2016 - "Reschedule 4/20 Event", protesters are walking to the White House carrying an inflatable joint. 

        Why would you want to buy marijuana illegally after having fought for it to be legal? Just go to a dispensary and chill out. People didn't basically hotbox the White House's south lawn to not say anything. People want weed. And us who are in Canada will most likely get it (don't we all love Trudeau?). Those in the States have a bit more work to do.

BYE!

(1) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pot-revenue-government-5-billion-1.3423705
(2) http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/02/09/colorado-marijuana-sales-2015-reach-996-million/47886/