Legalize drugs, then what?

[StoneGold]

Say you're an average drug kingpin. Then, out of the blue, your merchandise is suddenly legalized. You have to make money somehow, and it's not like you're going to get a regular job like the squares, so what do you get into now?

[Shellhead]

I assume that legalization would include sales tax. There might be a temptation to continue the illegal operation just to avoid sales tax. But I think that I would rather take my cash and invest it in some legal business. For example, new cars don't sell as well these days, so people are trying to make their older cars last longer. I would invest in an auto repair shop.

[DeadXMan]

I assume that legalization would include sales tax. There might be a temptation to continue the illegal operation just to avoid sales tax. But I think that I would rather take my cash and invest it in some legal business. For example, new cars don't sell as well these days, so people are trying to make their older cars last longer. I would invest in an auto repair shop.

hey gear head like the weed, too.

[StoneGold]

I assume that legalization would include sales tax. There might be a temptation to continue the illegal operation just to avoid sales tax. But I think that I would rather take my cash and invest it in some legal business. For example, new cars don't sell as well these days, so people are trying to make their older cars last longer. I would invest in an auto repair shop.

That doesn't really keep you in bitches and blow. Nor does it emphasize your particular talents. Not to mention, no one ever got rich fast managing a Pep Boys.

[DeadXMan]

That doesn't really keep you in bitches and blow. Nor does it emphasize your particular talents. Not to mention, no one ever got rich fast managing a Pep Boys.

what if we combined a repair shop with a brothel?

[StoneGold]

Possible. Although I don't know if the sex trade has quite the easy reach of drugs.

[OverMaster]

Say you're an average drug kingpin. Then, out of the blue, your merchandise is suddenly legalized. You have to make money somehow, and it's not like you're going to get a regular job like the squares, so what do you get into now?

Distribute pirated movies and TV shows. Now THAT will never be legalized.

[OverMaster]

Possible. Although I don't know if the sex trade has quite the easy reach of drugs.

People does not need to get into drugs in the first place, but everyone needs a piece of fruit every now and then.

[Slam_Bradley]

what if we combined a repair shop with a brothel?

They both involve lube jobs.

[OverMaster]

They both involve lube jobs.

And junk in the trunk.

[StoneGold]

Distribute pirated movies and TV shows. Now THAT will never be legalized.

Gah, I dunno how anyone makes money at that anymore. I mean, either than selling to the incredibly stupid, or poor enough to not be able to afford a decent internet connection, but rich enough to be able to afford a DVD player and bootleg movies.

Any pirate someone can sell me on the streets of Chinatown, I can download for myself, cut out the middleman.

[Paradox]

Eh, so they lose drugs. There's always gambling, prostitution and theft/robbery left.

[CSPDX]

Say you're an average drug kingpin. Then, out of the blue, your merchandise is suddenly legalized. You have to make money somehow, and it's not like you're going to get a regular job like the squares, so what do you get into now?

Racketeering, protection, prostitution, insurance fraud, quick change grifting...

There's a lot of other options if you're really into doing something off the books, but not many as easy as sitting on your ass all day getting baked.

[Paradox]

To be honest, the weed trade is quite a different type of dealing than, say, crack or coke. A lot less of the whole "criminal element" stuff. A good portion of weed dealers deal ONLY weed, whereas "any" drug dealers do sell weed, it's not where their money is.

[StoneGold]

Eh, so they lose drugs. There's always gambling, prostitution and theft/robbery left.

Except they already have all that - I guess they could put more money into those areas, but it's not like it's going to really replace the enormous chunk of change being lost to a legalized drug trade.