Todays drug problems.................

Funny you should mention the burbs. The rise in opioid abuse (heroin and pharmaceutical) is very much a suburban/rural phenomenon. Addiction rates in big cities haven't changed much. Could it be that kids in central cities have less access to Doctor Feelgoods who dispense high-quality painkilllers?

Also, I wouldn't disregard the addiction rate among people who were prescribed Oxycodone for legitimate reasons (like serious injury) and found they couldn't kick them once they had healed. Then there are the mentally ill (a largely forgotten segment of our society) who self-medicate to escape their internal demons. There's definitely a public health dimension in this issue -- it's not just personal liberty vs. crime and punishment.

 

Good idea. Hopefully she won't learn this trick anytime soon. (hint - travellers beware!)

 

Many years back, one of the main focuses from the Joint Accreditations of Hospitals was pain management. There was a "HUGE" push to mediate pain. Unfortunately pharmaceutical interventions won out. Non pharmaceutical management involve way more training and time. Thus 75% of addictions have their root in prescription drugs. So when it comes to laws and punishment, don't be so anxious to throw the baby out with the bath water. I've seen a lot of issues associated with pot, most of them are related to faulty law and regulations. I personally think that pot ought to be decriminalized. Apply similar rules and taxes as is to ETOH.

 

Agreed.

I do not believe taxes are a solution. In the interest of keeping politics out of the discussion I will only say:

The use of taxes to control behavior has led us down a miserable and self destructive road. It has turned the tax code into the circulatory system of power.

 

Say what you will about either side.

But for my money, I have moved my portfolio positions away from Altria/Phillip Morris, RJ Reynolds, etc., in to money market and other less volatile holdings. (on the same token, interestingly enough, Ruger Inc has been doing very well!)

When the gubment allows me to move positions into marley inc., I will certainly capitalize.. cause that stuff is apparently a hit. (no pun intended)