Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Calif. tax officials: Legal pot would bring $1.4B
AP via Yahoo ^

Posted on 07/16/2009 6:18:10 AM PDT by Slapshot68

A bill to tax and regulate marijuana in California like alcohol would generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue for the cash-strapped state, according to an official analysis released Wednesday by tax officials.

The State Board of Equalization report estimates marijuana retail sales would bring $990 million from a $50-per-ounce fee and $392 million in sales taxes.

The bill introduced by San Francisco Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano in February would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess, grow and sell marijuana.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: lping; medicalpot; wod; wosd
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last
To: Harold Shea

You would probably have to fence it in and place electronic monitors all around it to keep the kids out of it.


21 posted on 07/16/2009 7:03:46 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Socialism is the belief that most people are better off if everyone was equally poor and miserable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Slapshot68

The difference between going to the store and buying liquor and buying pot is, you need to treat the pot the same as liquor.

The problem I see, is the ones buying the pot will ‘light up’ as soon as they get it, just like cigarettes.

Laws need to apply equally to pot and liquor.

If you can’t drink the liquor on the street legally, then you shouldn’t be able to smoke the pot either.

Public intoxication and DWI would be defined for both, with the same penalties.


22 posted on 07/16/2009 7:29:13 AM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Bigh4u2

“Laws need to apply equally to pot and liquor.

If you can’t drink the liquor on the street legally, then you shouldn’t be able to smoke the pot either.

Public intoxication and DWI would be defined for both, with the same penalties.”

Couldn’t agree more.


23 posted on 07/16/2009 7:31:16 AM PDT by Slapshot68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Slapshot68

Hey, Kalifornia. Why not try something REALLY radical, like making GUNS legal!


24 posted on 07/16/2009 7:31:36 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

Industrial hemp used to be Missouri’s largest cash crop. You could make anything out of it. I’d consider getting into farming if they legalized growing it again. The clothes that can be made out of it are stronger than cotton and last longer. The ropes, the oils, the edible seeds, it’s a huge untapped market. Besides the fact the stuff grows, a lot, and you could get more than one crop a year and the stuff doesn’t need pesticides.

It’s a great way to cash in on the “organic” market and with a low overhead to boot.


25 posted on 07/16/2009 7:34:36 AM PDT by MissouriConservative (Let the purging of the RINOs begin in 2010. - MissouriConservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: tflabo

Even with a punishing tax rate, a sack of legal weed would still cost far less than the current black market prices. I suspect those inclined would happily pay a big tax to fire up their bongs legally.

And growing pot is a pain, especially for a recreational user. Why have home brew kits not driven Budweiser out of business, and why do bags of tobacco not outsell cigarettes? Again, people will gladly pay the tax for (1) convenience and (2) peace of mind in being legal.


26 posted on 07/16/2009 7:41:27 AM PDT by Pale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Pale

True, but what about all of those violent Mexican drug gangs? What are they going to do for gainful employment?


27 posted on 07/16/2009 7:47:59 AM PDT by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: MissouriConservative

The Niobrara River in Nebraska is so full of industrial hemp it looks like pictures I’ve seen of Thailand! Acres upon acres of it. No THC, I’m pretty sure. It really should be grown as a crop here in America - it is wonderful, but then again it’d be impossible to discern from the strong stuff.


28 posted on 07/16/2009 7:57:24 AM PDT by mallardx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: JamesA
Next it will be Heroin, Meth, Lsd, Opium, how foolish to allow this and it will spread to other states.

No one will be forcing you to use the stuff...but for those of us who do, then let us do so responsibly. America is still a free country, is it not?

29 posted on 07/16/2009 8:49:49 AM PDT by ChrisInAR (The Tenth Amendment is still the Supreme Law of the Land, folks -- start enforcing it for a CHANGE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

Like I said on a previous post, I will GLADLY pay the tax if I could be assured that I could use responsibly & not have my freedom taken away by an over-bearing government. Freedom isn’t free!


30 posted on 07/16/2009 8:52:18 AM PDT by ChrisInAR (The Tenth Amendment is still the Supreme Law of the Land, folks -- start enforcing it for a CHANGE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: tflabo
Let them have their Pot Nirvana in Ca. When they the Drug Warriors figure out how much the govt. taxes them for it much better life will be when we get the government off of people's backs, perhaps they will get a lesson in conservatism. People have a right to waste their lives away if that’s what they choose. Free Republic!

There...I fixed it for you. :-)

31 posted on 07/16/2009 9:06:05 AM PDT by ChrisInAR (The Tenth Amendment is still the Supreme Law of the Land, folks -- start enforcing it for a CHANGE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Slapshot68

i know this wont be popular, but i said it before and i think it makes sense to legalize it.
the money would help offset costs, end nuisance work for police allowing them to do more important work
regulation of the drug would be much easier and the money going back to terrorists and criminal organizations would be cut significantly.


32 posted on 07/16/2009 1:50:38 PM PDT by Munz ("We're all here for you OK? It's a circle of love" Rham Emanuel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ScottinVA
Why not just harvest body parts from gangbangers convicted of murder and sell them on the open market?

Without illegal drugs, the gangbangers would have to resort to smuggling cigarettes, light bulbs, trans-fats, red meat, young hookers for politicians, etc.

When you create a vacuum................things eventually go there.

33 posted on 07/16/2009 8:06:23 PM PDT by elkfersupper (Member of the Original Defiant Class)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson