January 13, 2010
January 13, 2010
BY Oregon Tax News,
Pot appears to be back on the docket in 2010, as four states debate legalizing marijuana and the impacts such a move could have on businesses and the economy. Business owners are concerned that legalization will make them subject to new discriminatory lawsuits for not hiring workers who use marijuana. Some states however are hopeful that the legalization and the sale of marijuana will bring new tax revenue to the state during difficult economic times.
In Oregon, the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH) and Oregon NORML have finished gathering the 1,000 sponsorship signatures needed for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2010 (OCTA) to be placed on the ballot. The OCTA, would set aside two percent of the profits from the sale of cannabis in cannabis-only stores for two state commissions that promote industrial hemp biodiesel, fiber, protein and oil. The measure would legalize the sale, possession and personal private cultivation of marijuana.
People who want to cultivate and sell marijuana, or process commercial psychoactive cannabis, would be required to obtain a license from the state. Adults could grow their own marijuana and the sale of all cannabis strains’ seeds and starter plants with no license, fee or registration. Profits from the sale of pot would go to pay for state programs and drug treatment programs. Proponents argue that the proceeds would generate millions of dollars toward public finances.
California has also managed to collect enough signatures to place a petition on the ballot by next November. Advocates for legalizing marijuana in California argue that doing so, and taxing the drug, will generate much needed revenue for the cash strapped state,
potentially in excess of $1 billion per year. The state is now facing a $22 billion budget deficit. According to the Associated Press, the ballot proposal in California would legalize possession of marijuana up to one ounce for Californians age 21 and older. State residents could also cultivate small marijuana gardens, and local governments would decide whether or not to allow sales of the drug in their area.
Washington State lawmaker, Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle), introduced a bill this month to legalize marijuana. Under the bill, marijuana would be legal for persons 21 and older to use and possess, subject to regulations similar to those controlling alcohol. Dickerson wants the legal pot to be grown by Washington farmers and sold in state liquor stores. Revenue from marijuana sales would pay for drug and alcohol treatment programs. Similar to other proponents across the nation, Dickerson believes Cannabis revenues will probably be comparable to those for alcohol, Dickerson said, which are at about $330 million yearly in Washington.
Nevada is the fourth state following suit, as a group called Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws announced another petition drive that could let voters deciding whether or not to legalize marijuana. Past petitions have failed, but this time the law would be narrower and would only allow adults 21 years and older to use and transport up to one ounce of marijuana. Nevadans would not be permitted to use the drug in public places. Thirty-nine percent of the state’s voters supported legalizing marijuana in 2002 and 44 percent backed it in 2006, campaign manager David Schwartz said he was confident the majority will support the petition if it secures a spot on the 2012 election ballot.
I am against Marijuana use but I am for legalizing it. The current system is broken and legalizing it is the lesser of two evils. Just look at how the prohibition of alcohol was a complete failure. That’s what we have with Marijuana. Kids in jail for minor possession, jails busting at the seams with people that are no worse than alcoholics. Don’t forget all the people killed here and in Mexico due to the drug trade.
Legalize it, regluate it and you will shut down the criminal activity associated with it. Missed sales tax revenue and income tax revenue associated with the business is no longer missed.
Be a good parent and keep your kids away from it. My kid won’t smoke pot whether its legal or not. Those who choose to smoke pot will do it regardless of whether or not its legal.
Fight the feds on this…they have no consitutional authority to dictate what the states do on this issue.
Its long overdue, no person deserves to have their lives taken away from them because they consumed a natural herb, are you kidding me? Its less toxic than aspirin for crying out loud. We can legally go into a store and purchase enough alcohol to kill ourselves and others, but if we smoke some pot were labeled the worst of the worst and thrown in jail with murderers, ya that makes so much sense doesn’t it? The only thing stopping legalization now are people who will lose funding from the war on drugs for obvious reasons and the big corps who don’t want the competition of mother nature.
It’s a natural herb that qualifys as the safest medicine on the planet. It belongs to the people not the money hungry people who control it now for thier own selfish reasons.Lets hope it doesn’t just get worse when we do get some control back.I’ve met the greedyest people in my life in this movement.
As Always
B.B.
Good to see that the public is coming to their senses. I don’t smoke myself, but I have many friends that do and I can’t see the point in taking them away from their kids and locking them up at the public’s expense. They are hardworking individuals that are successful, responsible and an asset to their communities. Locking them up for their responsible use would do nothing but harm to the community and their family.
I see a lot of negative comments and derogatory terms thrown at Marijuana users. What gets me, is the fact that many of these people that throw the terms around have a few drinks on weekends to relax and enjoy life. What is the difference? If it makes you happy, takes the edge off or helps with Chemotherapy, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS/HIV or Pain why complain?
A lot of great comments. One fact that I would like to touch on is the expense the public pays for Criminalization of Marijuana Use.
The United States spends 42 Billion a year “fighting” Marijuana. The population of the United States is roughly 305 Million. Using 75% of that number for the people that pay taxes this comes out to $200 per citizen.
That is a lot of money for a “War” that does not work and actually has done the exact opposite of what was intended since the “War” was fabricated.
I think everyone that reads this is sick of obnoxious handouts. We are paying companies to build private prisons, and to increase funding for crime. I have no problem fighting crime, but Marijuana use is not crime, and the criminalization of it actually is what creates crime.
Remember It Costs You $200 Every Year. Enough is Enough.
Decriminalizing marijuana is not enough. For the last seventy years or so our gov. has persecuted anyone and everyone having anything to do with this evil substance with their war on drugs. In spite of all they spent or tried it appears that the truth may actually win; so where is the apology? Isn’t it time to kick open the prison doors and let all of the wrongfully detained political prisoners out? Closing Guantonamo is overdue but not any more so than half the prisons right here in the good ole United States of America. How about it President Obama, a national address declaring the war on drugs over and allowing patriotic Americans to smoke pot and not rot in prisons built for criminals!
Genesis 1:12″- have been given you all the seed bearing plants and herbs to use”. True story, it is biblical, and as a nurse I have yet to care for a patient who is dying from marijuana use..I can say however, I have cared for patients dying from cigarrette smoke induced illness as well as alcohol related problems..also have cared for people that have just plainly pickled their brains with alcohol. Just my thoughts.and honestly, we could use the revenue..could think of better ways to use our police resources.
Where can I sign petition for WA.. Have not seen a place to yet.
Bellingham, WA
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A regulated and licensed distribution network would put responsible adult supervision in between children and premature access to drug distribution outlets. Regulated and licensed distribution would reflect and respect society’s values, thus preventing children obtaining easy access to theses dangerous substances. What we need is legalized regulation. what we have is a non-regulated black market to which everybody has access and where all the profits go to organized crime and terrorists.
Why is it taking so long?