A Different Kind Of Tea Party!

What would you do with an extra $14 billion dollars? NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, wants to find out.

This morning (April 15), members of NORML presented a mock check to the U.S Treasury Department in the sum of $14 billion dollars. The check total represents the combined savings and tax revenues that would be generated by regulating the sale and production of cannabis like alcohol.

"We represent the millions of otherwise law-abiding cannabis consumers who are ready, willing, vocal and able to contribute needed tax revenue to America's struggling economy," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said at a press conference at the steps of the general post office in New York City. "All we ask in exchange for our $14 billion is that our government respects our decision to use marijuana privately and responsibly."

But this Tax Day it's not just NORML that is calling on lawmakers to tax and regulate marijuana. In today's economic climate, the question is: who isn't?

Late last month, during President Barack Obama's first-ever Internet Town Hall, questions pertaining to whether legalizing marijuana like alcohol could help boost the economy received more votes from the public than did any other topic. The questions' popularity -- and the President's half-hearted reply ("No," he laughed.) -- stimulated a torrent of mainstream media attention. In the past two weeks alone, commentators like David Sirota (The Nation), Kathleen Parker (Washington Post), Paul Jacob (TownHall.com), Clarence Page (Chicago Tribune), and Jack Cafferty (CNN) have all expressed sympathy for regulating pot. Even Joe Klein at Time Magazine weighed in on the issue, writing this month that "legalizing marijuana makes sense."

It makes cents too.

According to a 2005 analysis by Harvard University senior lecturer Jeffrey Miron -- and endorsed by over 500 distinguished economists -- replacing pot prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcohol would produce savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year.

A separate economic analysis, conducted by George Mason University professor Jon Gettman in 2007, estimates that the total amount of tax revenue derived from cannabis could be far higher. According to Gettman, the retail value of the total U.S. marijuana market now stands at a whopping $113 billion per year. Using standard tax percentages obtained from the Office of Management and Budget, he calculates that the diversion of this market from the taxable economy deprives taxpayers of $31.1 billion annually.

For local and state governments, taxing and regulating pot could help reduce growing deficits. For instance, in Oakland, California the City Council gave preliminary approval last week to a proposal to raise the business tax paid by city-licensed medical marijuana dispensary operators. Council members estimate that the new tax will raise anywhere from $400,000 to a "couple million" dollars annually.

Likewise, lawmakers in Massachusetts and California are debating statewide measures to tax and regulate the production and sale of cannabis to adults. Both state proposals would impose a fixed excise tax on the retail production of marijuana -- non-retail cultivation would remain untaxed -- as well as sales taxes on the commercial sale of the drug to anyone 21 years and older.

"The revenue effect of the proposed Act is an estimated annual revenue gain of $1.339 billion," says the California State Board of Equalization and Taxation, which is backing the measure. A more liberal economic assessment performed by California NORML's Dr. Dale Gieringer estimates that the annual revenues raised via the advent of a legal cannabis industry in California could be far higher.

"A comparable example would be California's wine industry," Gieringer wrote in a 2009 report. "With $12.3 billion in retail sales, the wine industry generates 309,000 jobs, $10.1 billion in wages, and $2 billion in tourist expenditures. Extrapolating these figures to a legal marijuana market, ... one might expect $12 to $18 billion in total economic activity, with 60,000 to 110,000 new jobs created, and $2.5 to $3.5 billion in legal wages, which would generate additional income and business taxes for the state."

Finally, taxing and regulating cannabis would have the added bonus of taking the production and trafficking of pot out of the hands of criminal enterprises and, increasingly, drug gangs. According to the Associated Press, marijuana is the "biggest source of income" for Mexican drug cartels. Legalizing pot would eliminate this primary income source for these cartels and, in turn, eliminate much of the growing violence and turf battles that currently surround the drug's illegal importation from Mexico.

Any way you look at it, legalizing cannabis just "makes sense." So why aren't we doing it?

Comments

[jennw01]

I'd rather see this money go to our government instead of the pockets of criminals, who as we know, are only able to capitalize on marijuana sales because it's illegal. Decriminalization seems so much more sensible. "Remember prohibition? It still doesn't work!"

[Z-Liberator]

Ok, Who failed to invite me to the event?

[Brian Kellar]

so last year my father died of cancer. He had a huge whole in is head that caused tremendous pain he was uncomfortable 24/7. out of all the pain meds he took were talking strong stuff demaral shots, oxycodine, morphine, the only thin that really worked was good pot. Not only did it help him manage his pain but it helped his appetite when chemo therapy killed it. if thats not good enough reason to legalize pot then 14.2 billon dollars should be. I've been a responsable pot smoker for almost 10 years and would have no problem being taxed on pot sales. think about it could dramatically help in almost every area of the econamy better education etc stop the pain legalize now.

[Coinyer101]

The President is being a fool on this issue.

[Coinyer101]

as a proud member, i say. "YYAAAAAAA­AAY,NORML! YES WE CANNABIS!"

[thinayr]

Let's put an end to the immense damage the drug war has on the fabric of our (and other) societies and focus on education and responsibility.

More importantly, let's give this incredibly versatile and profitable crop ("industrial hemp") back to the American Farmer and begin taking seriously the ecological perils we now face.

Everyone interested in cannabis, either "recreational" or industrial, should get a hold of Jack Herer's 1985 book, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes," where he presents the research behind his $100,000 challenge to the world to prove the following wrong:

"If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction, were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation;

then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time...

and that substance is the same one that has done it before . . .
Cannabis...Hemp... "Marijuana!""

If you think this sounds crazy... start investigating for yourself!
Educate & Overcome!

[Sarah Katherine]

Jack Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" ~ Read Here Online http://bit.ly/zNgyK

[luvmithng]

I am currently researching biofuels at a university. I am also a MAJOR proponent of cannabis. I have also read Jack's book, GREAT!!!!!!, but we need a well rounded solution to the energy needs we as a world have. The real culprit is our massive consumption of fossil fuels. We are part of a capitalistic society. We call it capitalism because no one would want to be part of a system called GREED. The point of our system, up until this point, was to consume as much of everything as quickly as we could. I do not want to continue to monoculture as we do today, that includes covering every square inch of the earth in HEMP to keep us consuming at the same unsustainable pace. Using cannabis as one tool in our tool box is something I can get behind!!!!
FREE CANNABIS FOR THE PLANET AND US

[moldy]

I'm a 44 year vet of using pot like many I see here today. I'd pay a tax but it would be for a higher quality, pretty packaged, organically grown, fresh, potent cannabis. It would be totally safe from mold and bugs and carry a guarantee of containing no harsh chemicals. I could buy it any day of the week without the fear of arrest.
I would much rather pay a tax on good quality marijuana than continue to pay taxes for employing storm troopers to bust down doors to shoot pets and whatever else they feel like shooting that day.
Let's keep trying to end this insanity even it means being a "troll" or "an online audience".
We are dead serious.

[fortheGreaterGood]

Keep fighting the good fight, everyone. I have been pretty active with this issue lately in personal life... I encounter people all the time who think marijuana is a scary, dangerous substance. One thing I have learned is that many of these people are so convinced of the myths they were taught about marijuana in classes like DARE (I went through those in school too) and drug-awareness classes in high school. They see the ads on TV and they soak it right up. I always throw in truthful information when I overhear someone spewing BS about this plant. I hope you all are doing the same. It is important for people to learn the truth, though it is often hard to get them to listen to a word you say without regarding you as a total idiot. That's fine though... let them think I'm an idiot... but maybe a little seed gets planted in their minds and they go looking up the info themselves. Maybe they'll come to find the truth of it, just as I did. So I keep hoping, and keep spreading the word. :) I hope you all will, too.

[enormousroom]

Drugs are winning the drug war. It time Americans open their eyes and minds to the idea of legalization. At least debate it.

[worldlyhick]

Various government agencies are so corrupt and have put out anti-cannabis propaganda for so long, it will take much effort to get reality based information to people. Thanks to Mr. Armentano for posting this and other articles.

Here is a link about legal action (by ASA) brought against HHS to correct misleading and incorrect information about cannabis that they disseminate. HHS has been very resistant to this. I guess this is just another example of how entrenched corruption has become in government agencies with respect to this and probably other issues as well.

http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/2009/04/14.html#a3418

[PlaceboStudman]

The way I look at it, many of our Congressme­n-and-wome­n in the agricultural states are often paid off with contributions in packs of cigarettes. Can you imagine if marijuana was legalized, taxed and regulated like tobacco, these same congresspersons would then insist on being paid in joints. Let Congress have their joints, everybody chils out, and more things get done. And as for those people who worry that Congress would become lazy, lethargic and neglect their jobs....

Tell me just how well are they doing NOW, sober??

[Sarah Katherine]

If we, and groups like NORML and ASA continue to hold our government's feet to the fire on this one, it has to give way to the inevitable. Reason will eventually prevail. But as another commenter said, we really do have to do the footwork.

I can't help but wonder, seeing that we have demonized a plant no more intoxicating than alcohol, with extremely well documented (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis#Indications) medical benefits bordering on miraculous in some cases, proven also to be way safer than tobacco... there must be something going on behind the scenes.

We all know about the financial reasons, but what about the fear of masses of people thinking outside the box, thinking for themselves... as happens when people get stoned? I wonder if this might play a part in the massive hoax that continues even with nothing relevant holding it up; even with 80 percent of US citizens in favor of legalization (from a recent CNN poll)?

I am not going to shut up anytime soon. Not until this prohibition is repealed. I don't care that it isn't super realistic or that it will not be easy. This prohibition is built on a lie and on fear and I am standing up against lies and fear. Also I feel strongly supportive of this herb for so many reasons.

[PlaceboStudman]

You hit the nail on the head. Our politicians are afraid that we will start thinking outside the box, and won't allow ourself to be bamboozled by their emotion based propoganda. They're afraid of the very real potential for there to be a time when there aren't even any boxes left to think in, because people have gained their self reliance and freedom of thought and expression. Just look at the increase in publicity and support for 3rd and 4th party candidates. People are still so worried that a 3rd or 4th party candidate will ruin the results of a 2 party system, that they'd rather have independants "sit down and shut up" rather than speak their voice, be heard and force people to realize that there are more than 2 options. We MUST stop the black and white, right or wrong, all or nothing mentality and start to accept the fact that there are no absolutes and there arejust as many ideas and opinions as there are strains of weed.....LOL

[stancar]

I’m a hard working, tax paying citizen that’s about as law abiding as you can get except for one thing... I smoke pot! It’s feel it’s my right as an adult to do something that harms no one else in the privacy of my own home. I probably shouldn’t say, “harms no one”, our countries marijuana laws have turned other countries into war zones.

Do you want to stop making the drug lords rich? Legalize marijuana.

Do you want to stop the bloodshed associated with the illegal marijuana trade? Legalize it.

Do you want to make it harder for teenagers to get marijuana? Since I’ve never heard of a dealer asking for ID... Legalize it.

I’ve smoked pot for almost 40 years without any problems. I hold a responsible position where I work, I’m a loving parent, I’m active in my community. Why am I a criminal?

[BongTvLiveCom]

This is the topic that is discussed on my show 24/7. This topic touches on the life style of every soul on earth. we could all be living such a great life without all the unneeded stresses. We smoke weed to relax, but most of the need to relax is due to its illegality and the toughness to survive in an expensive society. Thanks for your time. Bong Rip of Bong TV LIVE

[SaveMyPride]

I've been affected greatly by the Marijuana prohibition and its laws. I have also been affected greatly by employee drug testing. Currently, I am seeking support and legal advice for wrongful termination. The company ignored their policy, which was never presented to employees, and state law. Furthermore, the Unemployment office overlooked this, and yet someone like me and a paralegal friend seen the error almost immediately.