The marijuana industry (both medical and recreational) in America is massive. Anyone who questions that just needs to ask a marijuana consumer how much they consume, and how many people/places they know who/where to get it from. In order to support such a massive industry, a LOT of labor is involved. As I sit at home on this federal holiday, I can’t help but reflect on Labor Day, it’s history, it’s meaning, and how the marijuana industry is getting the shaft.
Think of all the jobs that marijuana creates. The people that own the seed companies and the nutrient manufacturers employ a great deal of people, and the sad thing is, a lot of these companies are based outside of the United States. If the US wasn’t so busy getting it’s head out of it’s ass on the marijuana issue, all of these companies would migrate to the United States, increasing profits, and expanding their workforce.
Then there are the grow shops that sell the nutrients, lights, etc. I have never been into a grow shop that didn’t have multiple employees due to the ever growing demand for grow gear. Imagine if marijuana were legal and regulated, how many people do you think would start growing that aren’t now? The amount of delivery drivers from the manufacturer to the grow store would increase, the amount of people manufacturing would increase, and of course the amount of retail staff at the stores would increase.
Then of course you have the growers and clippers. I can get a ‘good job’ working for a home improvement store or be a teller at a bank, but how much money would I make? Upwards of $11 dollars an hour with diminishing benefits? I can get a job clipping right now, from who knows how many growers that are in need, getting paid $20 an hour. And that’s in an underground industry with no real structure. Imagine if marijuana were legal and regulated, and the clipping trade could be developed? People could start companies that do nothing more than clip marijuana all day, increasing productivity and profitability.
These are just the few ideas that came to my head, as there are countless other jobs that are created by the marijuana industry. If the marijuana industry was allowed to operate above water, and actually be given a fair chance to succeed, the benefits to our economic system would far outweigh any risk that is involved. The marijuana industry is one of the very few, if not the ONLY industry in our capitalistic system that is asking for regulation and taxation. Can anyone name any other industry that is willing to do that, while at the same time putting up the economic statistics that the marijuana industry does??? I invite anyone on the planet to find one, good luck. The marijuana industry has thrived for decades despite outright war against it by the government.
The marijuana industry is largely dedicated to the “social and economic achievements of American workers.” The marijuana industry wants to contribute to “the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” The marijuana industry wants to support those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.” If Labor Day was created to be a “workingmen’s holiday,” then let ALL laborers be honored, even those that the government calls ‘outlaws.’
I’m so tired of hearing conservatives bitch and moan about the state of the economy, about how we need jobs, and about how we need to take a realistic approach to government. They know damn well that they are hypocrites because if they saw me medicating they would call me a criminal, and try to narc me out to the first authority they could find. Never mind the fact that I have a medical marijuana card, because they were indoctrinated at an early age that ‘Reefer Madness’ will ruin the world. IF YOU SUPPORT AMERICA, IF YOU SUPPORT LABOR DAY, IF YOU SUPPORT SANITY, THEN FIGHT TO LEGALIZE AND REGULATE MARIJUANA SO IT CAN HELP GET US OUT OF THIS MESS!!!!
