Skip to content Skip to footer

What a Legal Pot Economy Would Look Like (Video)

How everyone stands to benefit from ending the war on weed.

Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news — make a quick donation to Truthout today! 

How everyone stands to benefit from ending the war on weed.

This fall Californians will go to the polls with a chance to make history. They will be able to cast a vote to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol or cigarettes. California’s Proposition 19 is one of many similar initiatives cropping up on state ballots across the country.

Whether it calls for decriminalization or medical marijuana, the end of cannabis prohibition has never seemed closer. In this short animated parable, “The Flower,” award winning artist Haik Hoisington contrasts a legal marijuana economy with an illegal one, to show how everyone stands to benefit from ending the war on weed.

“The Flower” contrasts a utopian society that freely farms and consumes a pleasure giving flower with a society where the same flower is illegal and its consumption is prohibited. The animation is a meditation on the social and economic costs of marijuana prohibition.

An urgent appeal for your support: 5 Days to raise $34,000

Truthout relies on individual donations to publish independent journalism, free from political and corporate influence. In fact, we’re almost entirely funded by readers like you.

Unfortunately, donations are down. At a moment when independent journalism is urgently needed, we are struggling to meet our operational costs due to increasing political censorship.

Truthout may end this month in the red without additional help, so we’ve launched a fundraiser. We have 5 days to hit our $34,000 goal. Please make a tax-deductible one-time or monthly donation if you can.