Legalizing Marijuana Would Raise $1.4 Billion Says CA Tax Board

McClatchy:

California could see a nearly $1.4 billion per year increase in state revenues were it to legalize marijuana, the state Board of Equalization says in an analysis of pending legislation to to do that.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[senorlou]

For what, for Mexican brick? Don't tell me you're getting $250 a QP for this:
http://www.marijuanareviews.com/post-pics/live-writer-pics/GreenCracksubmissionAmanda_10B3F/amanda13109greencrack001.jpg

[senorlou]

How did that post end up there? Well, it's just another example of what marijuana really looks like in CA. Don't let the HP photo throw you off.

[JakeHanson]

Marge: "Lisa, watch out for poison ivy! Remember, leaves of three, let it be!"
Homer: "Leaves of four, eat some more!"

*Drooling*

[swift goat pet for truth]

$1.4 bil in taxes.

More in lowered penal system costs.

And a lot less stessed out people.

[lm945]

Don't forget about the decreased business (and violence) for the Mexican drug lords.

[Cinnamonape]

It's also likely reduce some aspects of the criminal "people trafficking" as well...though the farmers might try to use illegal farm workers. Maybe make it clear that you have to use "home grown" labor to grow "home grown".

[grandma58]

The taxes could pay for single payer health care.

[Nicon]

The main problem with Marijuana legalization is how incredibly stupid the American public is, and how long we have all been lied to.

First we were told that Marijuana made people super violent and rapey..

Then we were told that Marijuana would make us all pacifists and allow communism to take over the USA from the inside out. rotting away our moral center.

Today we have more people lying about Marijuana then ever before. In the last week alone i have hear that marijuana causes testicular cancer, brain cell death, and stupidity.

The wonderful reality is that 99% of what most Americans KNOW about Marijuana is false. As it turns out Marijuana is the safest intoxicant known to man kind. (other than spinning in a circle real fast) Marijuana has Never cause a Single Human Death. Ever! in all of human history.

Also the USA is looking at around 70 Billion total if Marijuana was treated as it should be, a legal commodity.

Yes We Cannabis!

[oregonbird]

It's degenerate, and 18 year olds go to prison for using or selling it -- until the state wants money.

Then, it's a great idea. PAROLE EVERY PERSON IN A CALIFORNIA PRISON FOR POSSESSION -- then collect your d@mn money.

I love republicans.

[swift goat pet for truth]

That is also a money saver.

And, I agree. The morality of that situation is untenable.

[sviolette]

What parole? Just release them. They don't need no stinkin' parole.

[Hopeington]

EXACTLY. The caps are because their reasons for doing it are so self serving for their monetary gain, if not, it would have been legal years ago. $$$ signs are dancing in front of their eyes.
They will block any chance of easy access to it, even if legal, because their attitude about "pot smokers" will not have changed. This will be to benefit them, not us.

[gemswinc]

Eco

[gemswinc]

Needing money may finally end Marijuana madness...

[RIPRNC]

It has to start at a local level. It may never go national, but if it does, it can't be over night. Conservatives will go berserk and shut the whole thing down. We have to start at the state or city level which was essentially given a green light by Eric Holder. It will be better to build a foundation bysetting examples on a smaller scale, ensuring a the structural integrity of the movement. It's like killing two birds with one stoner.

[markdavida]

If California legalizes it, then other states would follow fairly quick in step to milk that cash cow. $50, surcharge for an ounce of weed is quite steep, but it is better than having the stuff illegal. A good point also is if the states start acting for themselves we the people can slowly downsize the Federal Government. I'm all for the states standing un-united and the Federal Government dissolving itself quietly. They are the root cause of 99.9% of all the problems in this country, and many, many more overseas. And if I'm not mistaken California does not need the Federal Government's permission to do anything. States rights trump that of the F. G.; I know that does not mean they can legalize killing people, but it does mean they can legalize pot at their leisure. The F. G. just holds money over their heads in order to get the states to do what it wants. And they just acquiesce like dancing with the devil. GO DOG GO, I say California. Lead the way back to the future when the states did not bow down to the Big Brother in Washington D.C.

[paulalex]

Ever heard of the EU? It's the Euro version of the Fed. Get used to it cos it ain't going away.

[senorlou]

Folks, that is not what marijuana looks like in California. It looks a lot more like this:

http://www.cannabis.com/files/photos/95151403b0db4f7L.jpg

[MikaS]

That is much more appealing.

[senorlou]

Glad you like it. It's the truth. HP is making us look, bad out here. Envy, I'm sure.

[papapj]

- drools -

[omeo2013]

It's glorious. (*-*) I didn't know you could post porn on Huffpo.

[NoSillyName]

Ahhhhh, beautiful.

[bleve1]

Ummm, that looks more like alfalfa sprouts than the herb mon.

[roma1]

So there is an upside to the crisis.

[paulalex]

Don't forget getting your butt checked for free every year ;-)

[educatedfoolz]

$50 per ounce tax? If the gov't doesn't undersell the black market, then it's no solution. Just allow homegrown for personal use. But, then the black market nor the government makes any money. Too much greed! Just legalize it already. It's not gonna happen. (sigh)

[senorlou]

Oh yes it is. $50, an ounce, who cares? I've seen the price of medical MJ go down 100% in the past 3 years. If you're smoking an ounce a week, or more, you better be growing your own anyway.

[MisterHands]

You are correct-- I live in Oregon and MJ patients can get named strains- grown organically for $250ish an oz. A few years ago it was $400-$500. But if health allows, growing your own is the way to go-- but that's not cheap either.

[omeo2013]

$50 an ounce won't make the black market go away, but if they legalize it, then you can't get arrested for smoking it in public and how do cops know if you got your stuff from a smoke shop or from a black market seller. Some people would buy it legally and we'd save money on law enforcement costs. That would generate enough money to keep everyone happy.

[octopi]

It should be decriminalized along with all other drugs. However, marijuana needs to be regulated in a way similar to over the counter medications and tobacco. There is still much to learn about marijuana, another important reason to decriminalize it.

From Mind Hacks http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2009/06/the_straight_dopamin.htmll): "There is now growing evidence that cannabis use causes a small but reliable increase in the chance of developing psychosis....researchers found no difference in dopamine levels between the THC and the sugar pill, even though the participants clearly reported the effects of the drug....But if it is the case that cannabis does not cause a significant increase in dopamine levels, this will mean our ideas about cannabis and psychosis will need a rethink. It also shakes up the idea common idea that all recreational drugs are pleasurable because they affect the 'dopamine reward system.'"

[Coltrane1234]

Decriminalized at the very least, but that won't solve the black market which basically causes all the problems of the drug war.

[octopi]

That's what I mean. Legalize and regulate it like a tobacco-Tylenol hybrid. Definitely allow people to legally make and sell it as long as they have proper licensing or perhaps a certain level of maturity, that will kill most of the black market, won't it?

[senorlou]

That's funny. Here in CA they smoke it if they are crazy as a way to stay sane. Humans, gotta love them.

[sagcat]

I'm sorry, but $50 an ounce is robbery. Just legalize it and let me grow my own.

[senorlou]

You can grow your own in CA. I think it's only a few plants - 6 flowering unless you have a permit to grow more. Here, the pot you buy at the collectives is taxed at 9.5%. If you grow your own, no tax.

[Coltrane1234]

The bill would allow you too, 50 ain't that bad. If the Ounce cost let's say 200, up to 250, you'd only be paying about 1 and a half dollars more per gram. After the black market is gone and if they let commercial growing happen the price would go down significantly anyway.

[GraniteSkyline]

I am amused how municipalities become less righteous when they are cash strapped. Whenever there are serious money problems citizens start looking more favorably toward opening a casino or racetrack.
So to openly discuss legalizing weed means that California is really, really desperate!

If they legalized it today I'd move there tomorrow.

[senorlou]

It already is. Come on down!

[sviolette]

It's just that the government is about to fall into the Pacific Ocean and no one can get a job there now.

[Coltrane1234]

This is true, and I haven't seen any of the dooms day scenarios come true that all the drug warriors are talking about. So the pilot program already happened, legalize at the national level.