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.
shit is natural too....we don’t eat it...maybe you do....
Enjoy your dope!
I have. It's been enjoyable chatting with you!
GFY
I rest my case!
;^)
I think they're lying again.
+1
The study showed that the number of drivers testing positive for marijuana increased 100 percent from 2007 to 2012, with marijuana-related fatalities doubling from 37 to 78. Traffic fatalities total around 500 a year in the state.
__________________________________________________________________________
2007 => Fatal crashes 508; Deaths 554; Deaths/100K pop 11.4
2012 => Fatal crashes 433; Deaths 472; Deaths/100K pop 9.1
___________________________________________________________________________
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview/2007
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview/2012
Is that the “hair test” that determines if you’ve used cannabis in the past few months, or blood tests that showed it was used immediately previous to an accident?
100% increase of people having an accident who ate a Big Mac in the last month only testifies to the popularity of Big Macs. 100% rise in accidents while people are eating Big Macs, demonstrates causality.
“......what will they do when it bites them in the arse with addiction issues get out of control...”
Tax the working citizen for a disaster that they created.
Agreed.
Better to be right and alone than mired in a multitude of evil. And it makes a good litmus test as to the sort of people one consorts with.
“Now I will never touch the stuff, but if some fool wants to ruin their life with it, I am fine with it, just don’t tax me to clean up their wrecked lives.”
There’s the rub.... I tend to agree with your statement, but what is the measure of their decision impacting (taxing) others. In the article I didn’t notice any of the windfall being set aside for treatment programs.
“I know, I’m the one in line behind them all just trying to buy gas and a slurpee.”
Maddening, isn’t it? I quit going to those stations where the line to pay for fuel is filled with people checking their lottery numbers and trying to decide which sparkly gambling papers to buy next.
“.....marijuana can be easily grown at home and that’s exactly what people will do.”
THAT is exactly correct! Right now, while it’s being ‘legalized’ and regulated, there is an increase in tax revenue. Once people realize how easy it is to grow in their backyard or in a pot on a windowsill, what motivation will there be to go out and buy it? Sure, some people will, but most likely the majority will just grow their own. At that point what will the government do? Tax people’s personal crop? I doubt people will agree to allow ‘pot taxation and revenue agents’ into their home on a mass scale. So the end result will most likely be a small revenue stream but more stoners since it’s now legal. That’s exactly what Soros and the One World Government people want: a pacified work force that just goes along with the wonderful New World Order.
Think how much they would make by making meth legal!
is direct and extensive observation ‘ opinion’.
I live in one if the original weed capitals of Americam and
I can assure that there are many many ppl here that have intentionally self retarded themselves via yrs of pot smoking
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.