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Legal Cannabis is Literally Transforming Cities — Funding Roads, Schools, Charities and More
The Free Thought Project ^ | May 29, 2016 | Justin Gardner

Posted on 05/29/2016 1:06:16 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Two years after Colorado began its first retail sales of cannabis, towns and cities across the state are enjoying the benefits in a number of ways. With sales this year expected to reach $1 billion, local governments are seeing windfalls of tax revenue, which is funding education, recreation, infrastructure improvements, and even aid to the homeless.

The small town of Mountain View may be able to dispel its reputation for collecting revenue through speeding tickets, now that two pot shops reside there.

“We have such a small tax base,” said Mayor Jeff Kiddie, who opposed pot stores. “Medical and retail marijuana have definitely helped the town’s bottom line. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t.”

Similar stories abound in the 22 counties and 62 cities that allow retail cannabis sales.

In Aurora, which has collected millions in sales taxes and fees since October 2014, the City Council keeps the money in a separate fund so it can show the public exactly where cannabis revenue is spent. $1.5 million will be used to address the homeless issue, $2.8 million will go toward a recreation center, and $3.8 million will fund an Interstate 225 crossing.

Northglenn uses the money for capital projects and to purchase water rights. Adams County will spend $500,000 on scholarships for low-income students. Filling potholes and fixing roads is a common theme in other towns.

“There’s a lot of money left over to address safety issues that come up or really take on projects that these local communities do not necessarily have the funds to deal with,” said Mike Elliott, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group. “For some communities, this tax revenue has made a huge difference.”

Denver collected $29 million last year through taxes and licensing fees; the capitol city prefers to spend this revenue on “ramped-up regulation, enforcement, public health and education efforts.”

While bureaucrats both honest and crooked are reveling in the flush of cash, more importantly, Colorado citizens are reveling in their newfound freedom. Judging by the immense market impact of retail sales, cannabis is a popular product.

Perhaps people are finding it a better and safer alternative than alcohol. There is evidence that people are giving up prescription painkillers in favor of medical cannabis.

A fifth major benefit of legal cannabis sales is the dwindling black market. The federal government’s own statistics show that since 2012, when Washington and Colorado voted to legalize cannabis, trafficking offenses have fallen sharply.

Violence is less of a concern in cannabis trafficking than the issue of unknown origin and handling. With legalization, consumers know exactly where their product comes from and what is in it, including the THC content.

Competition that can operate in the open, instead of having to hide from a senseless drug war, is able to produce the highest quality product using responsible environmental practices.

The temptation of tax revenue is certainly one reason why lawmakers in Colorado and other states have endorsed recreational cannabis sales. But taxation should not be the guiding force for legalization.

Oregon is proving this point. Authorities in the Beaver State have enacted a 25 percent sales tax on recreational cannabis, which is causing some people to consider going back to the black market. This eagerness to collect as much revenue as possible is a symptom of burgeoning government and threatens to drive people away from the legal market.

On the good side, Oregon does not tax medical cannabis at all, perhaps because their medical laws have been in existence since 1998 and sudden taxation would meet with fierce resistance. It is important that other states, as they legalize medical use and sales, follow this example of no taxation.

Colorado continues to provide an interesting experiment in the legalization of a plant that has been demonized by government for decades. While taxation of recreational use is allowing cities to provide community benefits, let’s remember that freedom is the number one reason why legalization must happen everywhere.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: gaykkk; hallucinations; homosexualagenda; libertarians; marijuana; medicalmarijuana
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

There is a windfall now. It will be worked into everyone’s budget next year. They will be crying to increase the tax in two or three years.

Or they could use it to reduce their debt load. But that would NEVER happen in America.


61 posted on 05/29/2016 3:49:44 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: little jeremiah
...the pollen will mix with their Dayglo Orange or Purple Frizz...

Field grown cross pollinating hydroponic grows?

I don't see it happening or happening in such a small amount as to be negligible.

The growers would simply pull the effected plants.
male female cannabis plant

62 posted on 05/29/2016 3:50:28 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamiin Franklin)
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To: Darteaus94025

So your son was smoking under 15?

So...who’s fault is that?


63 posted on 05/29/2016 3:51:38 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Marijuana was involved in 12 percent of Colorado State Patrol DUI cases last year.


64 posted on 05/29/2016 3:51:51 PM PDT by Sasparilla (Hillary for Prison 2016)
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To: GenXteacher

Well, that’s your right. But I think you might find yourself alone if you had any clue who around you has smoked it.


65 posted on 05/29/2016 3:53:21 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: LeoWindhorse

That’s an interesting post. I would like to learn more about how pot causes “retardation.” Can you share your source for this. Because if your source is your “opinion” it rates no attention.


66 posted on 05/29/2016 3:55:44 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: taildragger

The Heroin epidemic in the east has nothing to do with pot. It has to do with the Cartels and their cheap access to drugs from Afghanistan.

You want to make the US a better place? Leave ISIS to the Arabs, and unleash our Army on Mexico.


67 posted on 05/29/2016 3:58:37 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: little jeremiah

One might get that impression sometimes.


68 posted on 05/29/2016 4:23:47 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("We like us the way we are. That makes us real, true friends." ~ The Undead Thread)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why stop there? Legalize coke, prostitution, meth, etc.

Morons.


69 posted on 05/29/2016 4:35:11 PM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They haven’t even started tallying up the costs yet ... when they do they will discover they have a big deficit.


70 posted on 05/29/2016 4:41:13 PM PDT by RetiredTexasVet (The Mob is an organized crime family; whereas, the DOJ is the gov't's political crime family.)
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To: dfwgator

Greg Brown! He has some good songs.


71 posted on 05/29/2016 4:47:03 PM PDT by Sawdring
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To: steve86

Don’t have the info on occasional pot use today, but I do remember how badly f***ed up guys in my unit in Vietnam got from smoking the s*** that came out of the Golden Triangle. And that was the pot that wasn’t laced with heroin.

Genetically modified superweed is nothing new.

Let’s give Tri-Cities WA about ten years & then we’ll talk.

;^)


72 posted on 05/29/2016 5:43:22 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: Darteaus94025

Yeah weed made him psychotic. LOL


73 posted on 05/29/2016 6:07:57 PM PDT by stuck_in_new_orleans
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To: Tax-chick

I’ve done a bit of researching about the effects of dope. A recent study done in Australia shows that it messes up the DNA and cause dope users’ children and possibly future generations some problems; some of them quite serious.

What to speak of the craziness.


74 posted on 05/29/2016 7:37:09 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Half the truth is often a great lie. B. FrankliIn)
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To: elcid1970
Let’s give Tri-Cities WA about ten years & then we’ll talk.

IOW, you can't cite an increase in crime since legalization in 2012.

75 posted on 05/29/2016 8:14:06 PM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
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To: Ken H

Cannabis user sucks deeply on his roach and then blows weed smoke in my face!

I’m so crushed.....

;^)


76 posted on 05/29/2016 8:25:06 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: elcid1970

No need to feel bad. I’m sure you did the best you could.


77 posted on 05/29/2016 8:32:04 PM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
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To: Ken H

Are you currently employed?

;^)


78 posted on 05/29/2016 8:44:08 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: elcid1970
Are you currently employed?

No. I made enough to retire at an early age.

79 posted on 05/29/2016 8:59:41 PM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Prostitution will bring even bigger money....

its all the wages of sin, period....

new recreation centers and new highways etc mean one thing....larger budgets to maintain them...

property or sales tax will NOT go down anytime soon...infact, they'll go up...

80 posted on 05/29/2016 9:02:27 PM PDT by cherry
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