California Assemblyman Introduces Legislation To Tax And Regulate Marijuana Like Alc.

jo_k_er_man · Feb 23, 2009

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norml said:

Speaking at a landmark press conference today, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) introduced comprehensive legislation to tax and regulate the commercial production and sale of cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol.
"With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense. This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes", Assemblyman Ammiano said. "California has the opportunity to be the first state in the nation to enact a smart, responsible public policy for the control and regulation of marijuana."
The proposal is the first marijuana legalization bill ever introduced in California.
"It's time for California taxpayers to stop wasting money trying to enforce marijuana prohibition, and to realize the tax benefits from a legal, regulated market instead," said Dale Gieringer, director of California NORML, a sponsor of the bill.
As introduced, Ammiano's measure would allow for the licensed production and sale of cannabis to consumers age 21 and over. Licensed cultivators would pay an excise tax of $50 per ounce of cannabis. In addition, the proposal would impose a sales tax on commercial sales. (Ammiano's proposal would not affect the state's medical marijuana law, allowing patients and caregivers to grow their own medicine.)
If enacted, the measure would raise over $1 billion per year in state revenue, according to an economic analysis by California NORML, available online here: http://www.canorml.org/background/CA_legalization2.html

Ammiano's bill comes at a time of growing public support for legalizing marijuana. A recent Zogby poll
reported that nearly six in ten west coast voters support taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol. Faced with a $40 billion budget deficit, other public officials have joined in endorsing Ammiano's bill, including San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessy and Betty Yee, a member of the State Board of Equalization, which oversees collection of sales taxes.
Currently, tens of millions of dollars are paid annually in state and local taxes by licensed distributors of medical marijuana. However, these sales only represent a fraction of the overall statewide marijuana market. "The millions of dollars raised each on the sales of medicinal cannabis is only the tip of the iceberg," Gieringer said. "Kudos to Assemblyman Ammiano for proposing a path-breaking bill that would benefit our economy, safety and freedom by making marijuana a winning proposition for California."
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weedwhacker · Feb 23, 2009

Only in California would a sheriff support a legalizing bill

twang · Feb 23, 2009

That's dope mang. Hope it makes it.

Therese Aline · Feb 23, 2009

Notice how money was the argument here. . . Drugs are bad, mkay? Unless they make the government money, in which case they'll jump on the band wagon.

hippieatheart · Feb 23, 2009

woo hoo! i'm movin me to california! haha

lucjl volcin · Feb 23, 2009

Im sure if we go into a huge depression they would legalize marijuana,they ended alcohol prohibition during the great depression.

tculi · Feb 23, 2009

oooooooolalaa. politicians actually making some sense is beautiful.

Bad.Fish · Feb 23, 2009

lucjl volcin said:

Im sure if we go into a huge depression they would legalize marijuana,they ended alcohol prohibition during the great depression.
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we are going into a huge depression...well i dont know how things are over there but england and ireland are fucked, heading into a minimum 10 year recession...wont affect me much but the average working middle aged are bollocksed

lucjl volcin · Feb 23, 2009

Bad.Fish said:

we are going into a huge depression...well i dont know how things are over there but england and ireland are fucked, heading into a minimum 10 year recession...wont affect me much but the average working middle aged are bollocksed
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oh were definitely going into a depression over here, i expect it to get a lot worse in the next 2 or 3 years though.

wonka816 · Feb 23, 2009

now we just need stuff like this on the east coast...now that would be nice

seizedbyanger · Feb 23, 2009

yeah right.

sweet shit like that never happens around here.

DroneLore · Feb 23, 2009

or the east coast could just sink into the sea and well all live west of tennessee

xSOADxX075 · Feb 23, 2009

If regulating it and taxing it is what it takes, I'm for it. I just wouldn't buy the shit the gov. sells, I'd be growin my own :sifone:

And yeah it does suck living on the east coast.

nesta · Feb 23, 2009

NEARLY six in ten voters....on the west coast....thats not much. doesnt mean it can't pass, but its not likely. its a reeeeeeally long shot. but i hope it passes. still, i won't hold my breath. and the feds would be all over that in a heartbeat.

nickers224 · Feb 23, 2009

if this stuff starts happening all over the U.S. ...please let it wait til i'm 21

DroneLore · Feb 23, 2009

the 2nd civil war will be fought over marijuana!

lucjl volcin · Feb 23, 2009

DroneLore said:

the 2nd civil war will be fought over marijuana!
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haha that would be a war worth fighting

weedwhacker · Feb 23, 2009

nesta said:

NEARLY six in ten voters....on the west coast....thats not much. doesnt mean it can't pass, but its not likely. its a reeeeeeally long shot. but i hope it passes. still, i won't hold my breath. and the feds would be all over that in a heartbeat.
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nesta!!! where have you been?

nesta · Feb 23, 2009

random thought, mostly

jo_k_er_man · Feb 23, 2009

nesta said:

NEARLY six in ten voters....on the west coast....thats not much. doesnt mean it can't pass, but its not likely. its a reeeeeeally long shot. but i hope it passes. still, i won't hold my breath. and the feds would be all over that in a heartbeat.
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6/10 is just 6% shy of 2/3rds. which is all that is needed for a vote to be passed

also.. norml's numbers are low on what is already taxed by the state/federal.. state and feds take 100s of millions of dollars a year in taxes..

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California Assemblyman Introduces Legislation To Tax And Regulate Marijuana Like Alc.

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