Nearly 40 years ago I bought a half-kilo in Cartegena for $20.

I wonder what the retail cost would be if the risk factor for wholesaling were to disappear?

Assume that it costs a farmer $50 to produce a pressed, packaged kilogram of dried weed with a 30% profit. What does it cost to ship say, a shipping container of some non-hazardous, unrefrigerated cargo from Cartegena to a warehouse in New Orleans? Say 5 tons fits in a container--I have no idea how much actual tonnage, but 5 is easy to work with. Lets put an import duty on the cost of say, 100% so that brings the cost per kilo at the warehouse from $50 to $100 plus shipping charges of say, 10% = $110/kilo.

Now you have all the value added stuff retailers like: advertising, packaging, distribution, state and local taxes, etc. Lets say you get a 200% mark-up. Now that kilogram costs $220 or about $7/ounce. This is broken-up and sold by the ounce. Lets give it about 200% mark-up and make that sucker cost an even $20/oz.

Currently an ounce costs $50. So, the risk factor is $30 which accrues to each exchange from farmer to doper. Who gets that $30? I ain't Mother Teresa.

In other words, this insane drug prohibition puts teenagers in jail, ruining their lives and through impoverishment, the lives of their families in some instances. It lines the pockets of dangerous criminal organizations who must subvert the financial system of 'host' countries in order to hide their profits--further decaying society.

It costs the taxpayer billions of dollars in a ludicrous war against drugs--while infringing on personal liberty.

Weed is so innocuous, it is just stupid to maintain its illegality, whether or not it has any medicinal value. Worse, it criminalizes personal behavior and makes extremely bad people, extremely rich.

I haven't smoked that crap in 30 years. The risk to me at this stage in my life is intolerable. But if it were legal, I'd be a weekender growing large on twinkies and soft drinks.

Your tax dollars at work.