Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

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POLL: Should Spain legalise cannabis and prostitution?
Monday, June 23, 2014 @ 4:13 PM

TAX inspectors from 'Hacienda' have called for 'soft' drugs and prostitution to be legalised to cut down on the 'negative effects' on society and the economy and generate more tax income.

Latest estimates by the tax office, Hacienda, prostitution and established brothels in Spain have an annual turnover of around 18 billion euros and, if this were taxed at 30 per cent, would mean an extra six billion a year clawed back for public funds.

The same would be true if cannabis was legalised as a recreational and therapeutic drug, since it would generate a huge hike in tax income and reduce the problem of illegal dealers and the associated crime and violence, says Hacienda.

As a result of cannabis and prostitution becoming legal, Spain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is barely one per cent at present, would rise to around 4.5 per cent.

From the beginning of June, the National Statistics Institute (INE) will be obliged to include drugs and prostitution in its GDP forecasts, as have a number of other countries in Europe, and say that so far these illicit activities generate about three per cent of the country's income, or around 30 billion euros.

Tax inspector Domingo Carbajo says there is 'a lot of hypocrisy and misplaced morals' surrounding the issue.

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23 Comments

Passinthru said:
Monday, June 23, 2014 @ 10:07 PM

Legalise Prostitution but not cannabis unless it is for treating medical conditions. There are two questions here and should have been asked separately to get a true response.

mac75 said:
Monday, June 23, 2014 @ 10:24 PM

You are quite right. I will separate the questions asap.

Thanks for taking the time to comment

Annie said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 6:24 AM

Judging by the number of young ladies at regular intervals along the main Costa Blanca roads, I would have thought that, although not legal, someone is turning a blind eye or receiving a back-hander. If legalised, at least I (and many friends) could walk around on our own without being propositioned. As for cannabis, I understand that it is already legal in Spain to grown a small number of plants for personal use. That seems fine to me.

So I can't answer your question because I'd say "yes" to legalising (or rather controlling) prostitution to protect all women and "no" to legalising cannabis any more than at present.

Juan Miguel said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 6:28 AM

TWIT!!
The two questions are totally unrelated.
Yes legalise prostitution to protect and clean up.
No to weed! Ruined my son's drive and thinking.

Have you been taking it? Would explain the idiot pole. Try and give it. A bit of thought next time!
Juan Miguel

icwright0705 said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 7:19 AM

If all illegal activities were legalised and taxed we could solve world poverty at a stroke. Of course we would now all become Drug barons, Pimps & Thieves as we would be living off the proceeds of other peoples misfortune and pain!!!!!

Wayne said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 8:34 AM

Cannabis is fine so long as people don't abuse it for recreational reasons I've never seen anyone fighting after smoking cannabis or hospitalised it should replace alcohol

mac75 said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 8:36 AM

Juan Miguel… "Twit?…..Have you been taking it? …. Idiot pole…." Whats that all about?

How rude and unnecessary. Give a bit of thought to your response next time and show some manners.

The questions are being treated separately even though they are related in terms of possible revenue channels at least for Hacienda.

If the pole is such an "idiot pole" please take your comments else where, it is a serious discussion topic. If you have something constructive to add please do so but keep your insulting and meaningless comments to your self.

Thank you.

harddunby said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 8:54 AM

What is amazing is that governments have nearly all banned tobacco on medical and social grounds, yet are now flirting with the legalisation of can ibis, it is breath taking hypocrisy as it is the same vigilantes who have band tobacco for a much more mental mind bending substance which is inhaled in the same way and presumably causes the same malfunctions to the lungs etc.america leads the way as usual be it exported geonicide or mind control.
I will leave prostitution as it has always been there and taxmen have never had a problem where there revenue comes from.

nsm3 said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 9:10 AM

I thought prostitution was already legal in Spain!

Certainly seems to be in Javea and Feungirola?

Sheila LS said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 10:59 AM

Having had personal experience of just what cannabis do to family members I am in no doubt that apart from medical use should drugs be legalized.

Helen said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 11:37 AM

Prostitution is rife in Spain and overt. Young girls line the roads until it gets too cold with their plastic chairs and umbrellas. I'd be amazed if the Gardia haven't spotted them given their predeliction for handing out fines willy-nilly to motorists.

I'd favour legalisation only because it will protect other women from being accosted and provided it's taken off the streets.

As for cannabis, individuals can own a number of plants legally (or have I got that wrong) so why change anything?

Ray said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 11:40 AM

What affect would legalisation have on prostitution and cannabis? Would it increase consumption of either or both, would it reduce or increase the cost of the product/service? Apart from the tax office who would stand to make most out of legalisation?
How can people get an informed view with a lot more facts.

Patricia Harris said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 12:00 PM

Cannabis is great as a pain killer and helps you get a good night's sleep. So I've been told.

Michael said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 1:27 PM

Yes I believe a limited number of cannabis plants could be grown in the privacy of ones home but only a very limited number for medical purposes only and not enough to make it possible for sale or supply to others.
In relation to prostitution I say Yes. This would allow it to be regularized and taxed. It would provide a safer environment for women and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.

harryfish said:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 @ 11:09 PM

Both cannabis and prostitution have been illegal for many years which has had no effect apart from corrupting the police and providing a good source of income for criminals. Let legalise both including hard drugs so people that need it can seek help.
Also people can use Cannabis with no fear as it is one of the best medicines available. Of course the big pharmaceutical companies will not like it.

angela quintero said:
Monday, June 30, 2014 @ 10:47 AM

Too much mafia and smoking people

juliany ertel said:
Monday, June 30, 2014 @ 10:49 AM

People need marijuana nowadays

Finisterre said:
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 @ 9:46 PM

Incredible that the results are so different.

Prostitution is obviously harmful to women. Legalisation might give them some protections, so I reluctantly voted yes. Apparently this is a no-brainer for most people.

Cannabis is not obviously harmful to anyone. There is some, disputed, evidence that it can be a factor in developing mental problems for those *who are already susceptible*. And there is anecdotal evidence from a few people that abuse of it is bad. The fact is that it is far, far less harmful to people than alcohol or tobacco. It is virtually impossible to overdose on, and as far as I am aware has not led directly to a single death. And yet 49% of people are against its being legalised for recreational use! I very much doubt that most of these are non-drinkers or have never smoked. Seems hypocritical to me.

molly said:
Sunday, July 13, 2014 @ 8:19 AM

Nothing wrong with cannabis. If you can take being paranoid.
Dont mind holes in your clothes. And too exhausted to work or do anything really.

amogles said:
Monday, September 29, 2014 @ 10:59 AM

So if people have some plants in their back yard, as soon as it gets legalized they'll come knocking on the ayuntamiento's door asking to pay tax. I don't think so. Sorry.

amogles said:
Monday, September 29, 2014 @ 11:03 AM

Never heard of cannabis-related deaths?

An ex-neighbour of mine shot himself through the head with a fish harpoon after taking a large dose.

Finisterre said:
Monday, September 29, 2014 @ 12:46 PM

The comments above about the detriments of cannabis are anecdotal. One person shooting himself after taking it proves nothing with regard to the general debate and very little even with regard to the man himself. Did taking cannabis directly cause him to become suicidal or clumsy? Who knows?

As for the 'tired/holes in your clothes' comment, that's like saying whisky should be banned because it makes my friend R violent. Not everything affects everyone the same way. The vast majority of cannabis users I know are working people with children and good jobs. Most of them also enjoy a glass of wine in the evening. There's very little difference between the two, apart from the artificial one of legality.

amogles said:
Monday, September 29, 2014 @ 1:36 PM

In this case, I think yes. The link between cannabis and schizophfrenia are well documented and this guy definitely had a tendency towards schizophrenia. He frequently told us and other neighbours that various people were out to get him and that he was filling his house with weapons of all descriptions to defend himself against "those people" should they return.

The fact that despite this incident, statistics continue to tell us that nobody has ever died just makes me wonder how these statistics define "nobody" and indeed how many other "nobodies" there are out there.

The tobacco industry was also denying any link to lung cancer long after science had already clearly proven that link. I find it cynical how people like that will deny the deaths of others in order to justify their own selfish enjoyment.