California boosts pot taxes, shocking unsteady industry

Associated Press ^ | November 23, 2019 | Michael R. Blood

[Olog-hai]

California is increasing business tax rates on legal marijuana, a move that stunned struggling companies that have been pleading with the state to do just the opposite.

Hefty marijuana taxes that can approach 50 percent in some communities have been blamed for pushing shoppers into California’s tax-free illegal market, which is thriving. Industry analysts estimate that $3 are spent in the illegal market for every $1 in the legal one.

The California Cannabis Industry Association said in a statement that its members are “stunned and outraged.”

The group said the higher taxes that will take effect Jan. 1 will make it even worse for a legal industry struggling under the weight of heavy regulation and fees, local bans on pot sales and growing and a booming underground marketplace. …

[catnipman]

in response to the question about why everyone doesn’t just grow their own because it’s so easy, everyone who’s responded to my post tends to discount the fact that i prefaced the whole thing with “the average pothead” ...

[Kickass Conservative]

When they were pushing Medical Marijuana way back when I recall the Commercials showing bald Cancer Patients ravaged by the Disease.

Never understood why Marijuana Clinics were not setup at the local Cancer Hospitals after the Law passed though. Most ended up in the seedy parts of town.

I guess those same Cancer Patients had to take an Ambulance to get their stuff.

[hinckley buzzard]

Stupid people deserve stupid problems.

[GRRRRR]

Sorry, I don’t know what an average pothead stereotype looks like...

[NobleFree]

Didn’t FR’s own nitwit libtardian addicts assure us legalization was the answer to all of life’s problems?

No.

[LouAvul]

Oh, shut up, you ignorant doper. You're neither Republican nor conservative and have no business on FR.

Go back to High Times High.

[_Jim]

re: “Cracks me up. Milton Freedman could have predicted this. Paul Krugman? Surprised.”

LOL. Winning the NP for Econ eventually makes one TERMINALLY STUPID!

Who knew!

[NobleFree]

You're neither Republican nor conservative and have no business on FR.

Delusions of adminhood again - must be the booze.

[DouglasKC]

Hefty marijuana taxes that can approach 50 percent in some communities have been blamed for pushing shoppers into California’s tax-free illegal market, which is thriving. Industry analysts estimate that $3 are spent in the illegal market for every $1 in the legal one.

Gee it's almost as if they're designing it to make sure people can get all the pot they want at a cheap price. They've managed to create two markets where before there was only one.

[gathersnomoss]

Would politicians possibly side with “the growers” if they were receiving kick backs?

[Lurker]

“ Didn’t FR’s own nitwit libtardian addicts assure us legalization was the answer to all of life’s problems?”

I don’t remember that. Can you post some links so we can all read for ourselves? I’ll wait. Take your time.

L

[mrsmith]

I’m sure Cal politicians obey whomever has the money to demand a “quid pro quo”.
I don’t think the legal growers are in that position.

[Jayster]

“ Jayster Friend ❣” Always looking for new friends that think alike.

[LouAvul]

M: Potheads are degenerate simpletons. m: Freeper libertarians are potheads. C: Freeper libertarians are degenerate simpletons.

[Lurker]

Logic ain’t your strong suit, obviously.

L

[Mr. Jeeves]

Awww...and you really though they liked you for you. :)

[AppyPappy]

Ironically, California was respond by declaring a War on Illegal Drugs.

[NobleFree]

Freeper libertarians are potheads.

False ad hominem.

[zipper]

I am called a “prohibitionist” LMAO.

"Canniphobe", then, of course, you must be labeled a "racistsexistbigothomophobiccanniphobe" because reasons.