I think the pot growers will be savvy enough to avoid this.
Basically by staying small and flexible.
Big tobacco only got hammered because it was big. If we had 2000 tobacco companies supplying the market, they just would have declared bankruptcy, dissolved, and started over.
Taxing sin is popular - you can make a lot of money and claim the moral high ground - so I really don't think the IRS intends to drive cannabis sellers out of business. CO saw a new revenue stream and tapped into it, and the Fed wants its cut too. They'll tax whatever the traffic will bear. They'll know they've reached that point when sales go flat and smuggling is rampant - just like tobacco and liquor.
I know it's cynical to say "It's all about money" but it really is (at least in this case).
Good point.
But you can run but you can’t hide when big government is after you.
Also, it will help if they stop trying to convince people that pot is not harmful. That is what nailed the tobacco companies. And when asked, refer to some government study and with a “use at your own risk” disclaimer or something. Like the alcohol companies.