That does sound criminal! If I wanted, I could get Diggity Dank much cheaper on the streets
That was my point on that deal. I mean if you want to be 'legal' then that's all fine and good. If we can take that industry away from the shadows and MAKE it legal I think that'll go a long way towards removing a lot of the stigma attached.
Like I said earlier, I don't smoke *"Diggity Dank"* (
don't have the lungs for it). And of course in my earlier years I've been around pretty much anything you can think of, never turned me into a 'junkie'.
These days it's been proven that there are medical benefits for it as well, and I'm not about judging those that do, if they NEED it for whatever 'condition' it'll help.
It's no secret that I am a chronic pain patient. I've been to more places, have seen more 'specialists' and have had more tests than a person should ever have to endure. Most of the 'pain management' doctors just tell you to deal with it, and hand you pills. But they don't treat you like a person with good days and bad days. I am lucky to have found my current Pain Management doctor, a board certified
Physiatrist, (
there are only 10,000 or so of this specialty). They are rehabilitation physicians, with a focus on nerve, muscle, and bone injuries/pain that treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move. Moreover they don't just hand you narcotics, but treat the physical as well as mental aspects of your pain.
Taking meds that are literally killing you isn't something I'd wish on anyone. The first time they gave me morphine I was in shock. I filled it, but wouldn't take it. Then they gave me something stronger, fentanyl! (
Made morphine seem tame from that point.)
The "Diggity Dank" has been a topic of discussion with him. He says it works, and blocks (
many of) the same receptors in the brain as what I take daily. And has no downside, NONE. I told him if it were in a tablet or capsule then sign me up! Last I remember, there were mass quantities of pie, and milk, and Twinkies, and milkshakes, and..... well you get the idea. :laughing:
In the interim, we have people standing in line for HOURS saying they can't eat, need something for hunger, or something for sleep, or something to help with (
insert your reason here). Guys that call everyone "dude", where "gnarly" is a verb and "far out" is a greeting and also a noun. Where GUYS are walking around wearing tie-died skirts, (
not shirts) with long pony tails and telling you it's not about 'getting high', it's about getting the proper "medicine".
Uh huh! :laughing:
So we move forward enough with our thinking to 'legalize' it all. Then they price it to where it's cheaper to stay in the shadows. Backwards thinking I tell you, backwards indeed.
You want to stop the criminal aspect, make ANY aspect of it a huge felony involving fines and jail time (
when you don't go through the 'system'), then price it to where the street level people can't keep up with the now LOWER "legal" prices. Everyone, their mother, and their brother will sign up and stand in line. (
When they KNOW they will not go to jail for 20 years for just having/using it.)
Want to own a firearm, buy it legally and get a carry permit. You can go almost anywhere, at any time and it never leaves your side. Seems to work for the people that don't want to be 'criminals'. Yet guess what? The criminals are still carrying firearms, still committing crimes, and are still buying and selling "Diggity Dank". BECAUSE THERE IS A PROFIT in it! Take away the profit, (
both by pricing and severe penalties) and for the most part that end of the business (
street level) will dry up. But levy insane pricing and taxes on it and you're just fostering the counter culture aspect of it all. Go figure.....
The only tax that I truly hating paying was the county income tax when I domiciled in Huntington In.
I had previously never heard of a local govt collecting income tax.
County Income Tax? Holy CRAP!
Now THAT is CRIMINAL!
I get the new tax on vehicles (
at least it's new in Georgia) instead of annual ad-valorem taxes. You pay once, and you have a tag for life. Plus you DO NOT pay sales tax on the purchase. The net-net at purchase time is the same. Yet the long run can be much cheaper, (
for those that keep a vehicle long enough to offset the initial tax). I can't imagine not having to pony up ad-valorem taxes every year come birthday time for 5 vehicles and a utility trailer. (
We can't save any money by having our vehicles in both our names because my wife's birthday is the day after mine. SAME YEAR even!)
The downside of this though is that it is likely to make people keep their vehicles longer. Because if you have to pay a "lifetime tag fee" and are the type that gets a new vehicle every 3 years you are going to get royally screwed. Then when you sell the vehicle, the NEW OWNER has to pay the tax yet again. (
Not based on the sales price, but on their assessed value. So selling your uncle your almost new pickup for $5000 will not fly.)
I would think auto dealers would be lining up to lobby against this tax structure. Then again, used vehicle sales may get stronger due to less tax on the smaller purchase. :dunno:
