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

[Babele]

Legalize it. Alcohol and cigarettes are legal and lethal, but not too many people have a problem with that. No government treatment programs either. We are all adults, act like one, educate yourself, and if you think that pot is for you, be my guest. Don't expect taxpayers to pay for your issues.

[zer0ne]

Don't forget, legal drugs may have killed Michael Jackson. If the "King of Pop" had been a stoner, he'd still be alive today.

[senorlou]

And Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, etc. etc. It's pure greed by the pharmacy companies that we aren't all growing it in our yards and balconies. Who needs tranquilizers?

[Sebbybear]

And what would the resulting increase in tax revenue be if MJ was legalized nation wide? Factor in the resultant savings from ending a major part of the "War on Drugs" and you could easily finance single payer healthcare.

[Paladine]

$50 buck an ounce fee? Might be better to keep things as they are ;)

[Disuberence]

50 bucks for an ounce is amazing. 50 bucks a gram is pushing it. Unless it's the best bud ever.

[seal62]

the tax is 50 on an oz

[SouthPrairie]

There's the healthcare plan money!!

[Disuberence]

This is really a common sense move. So many Californians already smoke bud. Where do you think they get it from? Who do you think the suppliers are? Spoiler: the people fighting in Mexico!

Come on Californians, we can do it. Think of all the money we'd save from law enforcement, jailing, etc. It's really a no brainer at this point...

[senorlou]

Hey dude. We don't smoke mexican in California. We have a $14 billion a year industry here for MJ. It's the rest of the states where it's illegal where they smoke that stuff.

[Unomastoke]

It has always been mans nature to be afraid of that which he does not understand. This is why It is easier to control many by threats of the unknown than it is to discourage one who has knowledge. We as a society of intelligent people should no longer adhere to myths. Our life times are limited to approximately the same amount of years the deceit behind this particular lie has been perpetuated. We must go forward no longer afraid. We must legalize, not for the monetary benefits but rather because we as a species must evolve. It is our destiny.

[FrankenPC]

LOL!! 1.4 billion is just the start. Factor in law enforcement costs and incarceration costs and legal costs...we are looking at a goldmine.

[DBtv]

An Acapulco Gold mine!

[FrankenPC]

Lol! But you're right. If it becomes legal and taxable, the actual cash crop will increase greatly. The growers will come out of hiding. It WILL be an Acapulco Gold mine!

[sonnybrakes]

Ya!

[RavenWest]

I see this as an attractive short term solution with incredible repercussions on the rest of the country down to a local level. If a single state legalizes, it essentially increases the movement of marijuana by 1000 fold, the rest of the states will need to introduce legislation that comprehends the sheer amount of california-grown marijuana that leaves the state destined for sale in the surrounding country, it's easily the 2nd largest source of marijuana in America already. The other 50 states can't stomach that fact, and for that reason I see it as a short lived enterprise. Assuming some sort of magical controls are put in place to keep the 35 million residents of california from exploiting their status as the only legal state, the societal effects are simply unimaginable to most Americans, adjustment would be rough, but doable. The cottage industry that exists locally will of course be destroyed, giving way to very potent and highly available strains of marijuana that with even moderate dosage render operation of a motor vehicle simply impossible. A couple stoners on the road gives you a few happy accidents, mass populations turning to cheaper marijuana during parties and leisure will most certainly replace alcohol as the top yearly cause of car accidents.

I love marijuana to death, it's great. Don't try and make the argument that driving high is safe or that marijuana will be totally regulated.

[MisterHands]

Driving on Nyquil isn't safe. Next strawman.

[deepfreezevideo]

So while the state of Indiana might not have ideal weather for growing pot that can provide a good quality buzz, it might turn out to be ideal for growing the same high quality hemp that it used to provide in the nineteenth century along with its neighbor Illinois.

Lastly, nothing is totally regulated, but marijuana will be regulated the same way that alcohol is regulated and the nation's smokers will gradually adjust to the new paradigm because it will be a lot easier than dealing with the consquences of producing illegitimate crops.
The government isn't going to punish someone who grows one or two plants for their own consumption but if you start up an operation with an entire basement and attempt to supply your corner of town the revenuers will be demanding either a tax payment or your ass in the slammer, and most likely it will be the latter. Consequently it will become a lot easier to just pop on down to the local pot apothecary for a bag.
Pot will become an important revenue generator, and it's time that pot and hemp returned as profitable players anyway.

[deepfreezevideo]

Your argument fails from the very first.
No one in their right mind should even consider operation of a motor vehicle while impaired on ANYTHING, so why you jump to bemoaning the potency of future strains of weed and their effect on driving is beyond me.
Drive while stoned and you should find yourself in the same legal straits as someone who drives DRUNK, period. There should BE NO litmus test for the potency of pot that includes "can you drive on it?" as a criteria. You CAN'T drive on pot, anymore than you can drive "on" anything, no matter what other people say.
Secondly, there will be a few states that produce pot and the rest won't produce it in significant enough quantities to write home about.
California's ideal weather will always make it a leader in the production of marijuana as a CROP, and in the end that's what it is, an agricultural crop WITH A GREAT MANY USES.

Thirdly, states that cannot produce high quality marijuana for consumption will simply switch to producing HEMP, which will yield EVEN MORE revenue for state governments, and HEMP will once again become a cornerstone crop that can help supply our nation with everything from building material to fuel to fiber for clothing to....well...you name it.

[Disuberence]

I drive high all the time. I actually drive worse sober. True story!

[DBtv]

I broke my arm snowboarding when I WASN'T high. I snowboard much safer stoned. True story.

[CypressTree]

I'm in NYC and I miss pot.
Nothing ends a day quite as nicely as a nice bowl, a movie, and some smooching. Sigh...

[Christopher in NYC]

You're obviously on the East Side and missing out on the REAL WORLD

[CypressTree]

Try Financial District-woe is me :(

[Haitians4Obama]

I'm in NYC too. I'll do Rachel Maddow instead of a movie. She is SOO funny!

[CypressTree]

I love her too-I had the audacity to e-mail her and ask her if she wanted to do lunch. Unfortunately, the audacity of my hope did not lead to a response. :(

[bobo5]

I like the small, independent coffee shops in Amsterdam. We'll end up with Stonebucks.

[SamEllison]

Instead of No Smoking signs there would be No A-hole signs!

[DBtv]

Thank you for Pot Smoking.

[overgold]

that looks like two parts arugula (ha),one part bean sprouts and one part coconut coir,i've seen better.

[sense oar sheep]

yeah it would, and i don't partake in illegal drugs.

William F. Buckley talked about decriminalizing drugs at least back to the early 90's, and his argument makes even more sense if we consider transferring drug sales money out of criminal hands and into state and federal coffers during this economic downturn.

[MyMindSpray]

As much as I love pot, this is the wrong direction to go in. Legalize it for recreational use and tax THAT. I'd gladly pay $50 for an ounce of good strength legal pot, but don't punish the patients. Don't tax it for medicinal value, you're just adding to the burden of AIDS/glaucoma/etc patients.

[MisterHands]

"$50 for an ounce of good strength legal pot"

haha.. try $400 plus.

[DBtv]

Nope. The black market pricing has got to go.

[Christopher in NYC]

NEVER FORGET...!!!

George Washington was a farmer....

[dirigentin]

"... and remember, behind each great man is a great woman ... and Martha always made sure there was a bowl waiting when he got home..."
or something like that. (Dazed & Confused)