If Greece legalized Hemp, would that solve their crisis?

[Yavin4]

Legalize it in all forms, mfg, healthcare, recreational. The revenue that it would bring in would quickly re-pay all of their debts.

[Cleita]

1. That isn't their problem. Their problem is not being able to manage their currency. eom

[Rex]

2. No. Lenders must be held responsible for their actions and take a loss.

Worlds gotta change first.

[Buzz Clik]

3. NO.

Maybe you should suggest a lottery.

[Warpy]

4. Nope. Their problem is that they don't control their own currency

Had they stayed with the drachma, they could have devalued it, making their products extremely attractive outside the country while ensuring that the balance of trade stayed positive by making foreign products unaffordable in Greece. That's how the debts could have been paid down.

This is the policy Ecuador pursued after they kicked the IMF out. So far, it has worked.

Unfortunately, Greece is stuck with the Euro for the time being. Creditors will be chopping up everything that isn't attached to bedrock and selling it off to repay debts that were run up by corrupt right wingers taking bribes to do it and doubled by Goldman Sachs. Since the EU flooded Greece with cheap products, their own agriculture and manufacturing sectors suffered greatly.

It will be interesting to watch what happens. Ordinary Greeks are living in pretty wretched conditions. Even the rich are feeling the pinch as there is nowhere to shop any longer.

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. Yes.

Wait. I mean, no.

Definitely not.

[Xolodno]

6. Hmmm...

...I'm wondering if being part of the EU might forbid them to do so....

Their best bet was really to bail on the economic zone, drop the Euro and fix things at home. Then enter into negotiation with the EU on repayment and never join it again.

*wrapping my head around this*

Thinking, if that was the case (i.e. Euro Zone able veto this somehow), legalize it in government owned stores, but can only be purchased in Drachma's, you can buy Drachma's from the government at a mandated Euro to Drachma rate. Use the Euro's to fund the state weed operation and pay some of the debt. Well, just an idea and I doubt this would be enough, but would help.

[Recursion]

16. Not the EU per se, but the Single Convention

They'd have to renegotiate their signature if they decriminalized.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. That would probably piss off the Albanians. They're growing the shit out of for the black market.

[shenmue]

8. I don't think so

Might help a little, but not enough to solve everything.

[JEB]

9. Probably wouldn't hurt.

[Zynx]

10. The scale of the problem is far in excess of what that would generate.

People are often shocked to learn that their recreation doesn't actually amount to that much compared to the big sectors of the economy.

[Yavin4]

11. Not just recreation.

Grow it and mfg it for industrial uses.

[Katashi_itto]

12. Hell, legalize all hard drugs and make it a safe haven for drug cartels. Lots of money in that.

EU wants to play hard ball. No problem.

Heck the possibilities are endless. Licensing contract killers giving them safe haven, multinational crime cartels. Money laundering.

Invalidate Interpol with out proper fees per each warrant Interpol wants to pursue. Unless the target has paid the required insurance to get proper notification.

[EX500rider]

13. No....they owe $271 billion

[Ghost Dog]

14. Investment in renewable energy infrastructure:

Solar, wind, wave, tidal (yes, there are currents through some narrows), geothermal including volcanic, hydro, recycled biomass, ...

Efficient water management.

Organic farming/horticulture/permaculture...

And, sure, why not industrial hemp and medicinal and recreational marijuana?

[Recursion]

15. No, because it doesn't grow there

Yet another import product is not what they need.

[brooklynite]

17. No?

I've never understood the appeal, but my impression is that it gets vested with far more benefits from it's advocates than are warranted?

Who do you imagine will be buying up all the stock to generate Government revenue?