CenterBHSFan;660944 wrote:Would that necessarily work, though? I would be that criminals and drug lords would still be in business, selling for much cheaper than a taxized drug.
They would certainly probably move to other lines of work, though, because now they're dealing with private sector competition. As it is, they aren't taxed, but they still make an obscene ROI because they have very little respective competition (pretty much, they have geographically limited monopolies) right now. Even with taxes on it, they'd have to drop rates, AND they'd be dealing with companies who hire employees dedicated to knowing how to maximize profitability while being competitive in the industry.
What's more, if they're selling it illegally, they'll be incurring other expenses that the legit companies won't be incurring, because they'll need additional anonymity and security (the kind all such companies would need, PLUS the kind that would be used to protect them from the authorities).
Then, you're still running through risk factors if you buy illegally. No regulation means lacing becomes a pretty easy solution if you are wanting the long-term customers.
I would say, all in all, if drugs were legalized in the US, the illegal drug industry would become a lot like the illegal medical industry. Sure, some guy who got a 2-year medical assistant degree from an online vocational school could charge you less for a LASIK operation in his basement, but would you risk your eyes to someone like that, even to save a couple grand?
