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Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

MAR 03, 2009 05:01 PM

Yep, hippies and Paultards alike* should be jumping for joy. Last week Attorney General Eric Holder had the following to say about the administration's official policy on marijuana raids undertaken by the Feds:

Holder joked, "What the president said during the campaign, you will be surprised to know, will be consistent with what we will be doing here in law enforcement." After a bit of laughter, he repeated, "What he said during the campaign is now American policy."

Obama made it clear in the primaries that he supported states' rights to give out medical marijuana, and that he wanted the DEA out of the raiding game. That same position was taken by both John McCain and Hilary Clinton.

After Eric Holder's comments Wednesday, blogger Radical Russ on NORML, the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws, wrote that people should mark down 2/25/09 as "the beginning of the end of adult marijuana prohibition."


So, no DEA raids means that in states like California where one can get a medical marijuana prescription relatively easily, pot is basically... legal. Of course, the obvious next step for other legal vices is also freer to occur: They're gonna start taxing your mary jane, yo.

This is dovetailing nicely with another national trend to open up what we tax at the state level. Some cowboys have proposed taxing porn and brothels, while others suggest taxing marijuana sales. In California, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, punned, “We’re all jonesing now for money, and there’s this enormous industry out there.”

From NYTimes:


Betty Yee, chairwoman of the California Board of Equalization, the state’s tax collector, said that legal marijuana could raise nearly $1 billion per year via a $50-per-ounce fee charged to retailers. An additional $400 million could be raised through sales tax on marijuana sold to buyers.



That’s a lot of money for a state that’s seen better days.


Huzzah on both counts, I say. Pot has been de facto legal in SF for years, and it's about time that state and local governments can start capitalizing on this most obvious of cash crops.

abbazappa

abbazappa

Sacramento, CA
June 2006

MAR 03, 2009 05:12 PM

Marijuana is California's biggest cash crop so it should be made legal for any adult since A. The state and nation really needs the increase in tax revenue B. they are adults and should be able to make their own choices and C. it will limit and hopefully end the drug cartels that smuggle it in and sell it.

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

MAR 03, 2009 05:30 PM

Hold on...there's no taxes on brothels? That's just silly.

I'm curious to see how this turns out. It's not my drug of choice, but the situation is interesting nonetheless.

malkav11

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN
July 2003

MAR 03, 2009 05:34 PM

Sick said:
Hold on...there's no taxes on brothels? That's just silly.



I would imagine that, like porn, they're taxed in the usual ways, and this is a proposed "sin tax" specifically on those things. But I could be wrong. I've never been near one.

Stiles

Stiles

Philadelphia, PA
November 2002

MAR 03, 2009 05:41 PM

Nevada brothels are currently legal only in rural areas and just get taxed by the county but that could change.




Nevada state Sen. Bob Coffin says his state should make brothels legal statewide and tax them to help wipe out a $2 billion budget shortfall.

Nevada is the only U.S. state with legalized prostitution, but brothels are only allowed in rural counties and pay county taxes only. Coffin proposes that prostitution be decriminalized and that the state get a cut of their revenues, ABC reported Friday.

"People are licensed to gamble," said Coffin, a Democrat. "They are licensed to sell cigarettes. They are licensed to sell alcohol. Why not license everything we consider a vice?"

Coffin said by allowing brothels to open up in Las Vegas, Reno and other cities, the state could reap up to $200 million a year in taxes to apply toward the budget shortfall.

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

MAR 03, 2009 05:44 PM

Geez...can you imagine how much the state could make off a sin tax in Vegas? Only $200 million a year? What, is someone already planning to skim off the top?

Mr_Matt_

Mr_Matt_

Pompano Beach, FL
July 2005

MAR 03, 2009 05:54 PM

I'm going on a weed induced, drunken hooker binge. If I pay taxes on it then I'm being patriotic at the same time. Total win - win.

It's amazing to see what happens when some common sense leaks into politics.

Homme

Homme

Los Angeles, CA
January 2009

MAR 03, 2009 05:55 PM

WHAT?! ANOTHER TAX INCREASE?!

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

MAR 03, 2009 05:58 PM

That's a threat to the prison industrial complex, dude.

PointBlank

PointBlank

New York, NY
November 2004

MAR 03, 2009 06:01 PM

Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ

FellOnEarth

FellOnEarth

Temecula, CA
April 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:04 PM

You beat me to it wildswan. Just imagine how much the public coffers will be saving by no longer investigating, enforcing, prosecuting and punishing people for using, possessing, transporting or selling marijuana.

BTW, America is already an incarceration nation. We're addicted to prisons.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

MAR 03, 2009 06:06 PM

Ha. I forgot to close the asterisk above. So here you go.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)








*as if there's any difference.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:11 PM

PointBlank said:
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ



HAHA!


Also, taking fuel away from the hardcore Mexican cartels will give Dobbs less to go all apoplectic about. That means less money for Brill Cream. That's cruelty to Lou Dobbs.

FellOnEarth

FellOnEarth

Temecula, CA
April 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:28 PM

Subrosa said:
Ha. I forgot to close the asterisk above. So here you go.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)








*as if there's any difference.


You did just mean a "as if there's any difference", in regard to the missing asterisk and not in comparison of Hippies and Paultards, right?

Actually, a relaxed drug policy alliance between more liberal and libertarian minded people might just wreak further havoc on already out-of-touch conservatives. It could mean a... Oh hell, never mind, why give the idea any further thought at all. t's not as if Libertarians could agree with Democrats on anything else outside of drugs and perhaps a few civil liberty issues.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:35 PM

FellOnEarth said:
You beat me to it wildswan. Just imagine how much the public coffers will be saving by no longer investigating, enforcing, prosecuting and punishing people for using, possessing, transporting or selling marijuana.

BTW, America is already an incarceration nation. We're addicted to prisons.



Yeah. What about public service as a way to deal with non-violent crimes? Oh, I almost forgot: privatization of the prison system.

Mo money, yo-- for them. We get to pay for it.

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

MAR 03, 2009 06:41 PM

wildswan said:

PointBlank said:
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ



HAHA!


Also, taking fuel away from the hardcore Mexican cartels will give Dobbs less to go all apoplectic about. That means less money for Brill Cream. That's cruelty to Lou Dobbs.



One doesn't need much money for Brylcreem. A little dab'll do ya!

But in regards to the hardcore Mexican cartels, I wonder how legalization might affect the street gangs? Sure, they deal harder drugs as well, but I'd think marijuana would be a core product.

Necia

Necia

San Francisco, CA
August 2005

MAR 03, 2009 06:46 PM

FellOnEarth said:

Subrosa said:
Ha. I forgot to close the asterisk above. So here you go.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)








*as if there's any difference.


You did just mean a "as if there's any difference", in regard to the missing asterisk and not in comparison of Hippies and Paultards, right?



No, I'm sure he meant the latter.

But there's probably a chance, however slight, that he was kidding.

DevilsReject

DevilsReject

Cleveland, OH
February 2007

MAR 03, 2009 06:52 PM

Sick said:

wildswan said:

PointBlank said:
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ



HAHA!


Also, taking fuel away from the hardcore Mexican cartels will give Dobbs less to go all apoplectic about. That means less money for Brill Cream. That's cruelty to Lou Dobbs.



One doesn't need much money for Brylcreem. A little dab'll do ya!

But in regards to the hardcore Mexican cartels, I wonder how legalization might affect the street gangs? Sure, they deal harder drugs as well, but I'd think marijuana would be a core product.



Marijuana is, if i recall correctly, the biggest (in raw poundage) and usually the most commonly transported drug across the border from Mexico to the United States.

From everything i have read, if it is legalized it would create a huge void in the cartel's finances, which in turn would cripple some of the smaller cartels causing them to collapse.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:52 PM

Sick said:

wildswan said:

PointBlank said:
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ



HAHA!


Also, taking fuel away from the hardcore Mexican cartels will give Dobbs less to go all apoplectic about. That means less money for Brill Cream. That's cruelty to Lou Dobbs.



One doesn't need much money for Brylcreem. A little dab'll do ya!

But in regards to the hardcore Mexican cartels, I wonder how legalization might affect the street gangs? Sure, they deal harder drugs as well, but I'd think marijuana would be a core product.



Oh, is that how it's spelled? Brylcreem? Dobbs is doing more than dabbing that stuff. I think he may be snorting it.

Anyway, I believe it is a core product. The hard drug thing is a problem, though. Ultimately, I think the lessons from the Prohibition movement should be examined really closely. I think illegality makes the game more profitable and more dangerous.

FellOnEarth

FellOnEarth

Temecula, CA
April 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:53 PM

I'm actually thinking of adding a new thread to the CE boards entitled American Milestones: XXXXX (working title) highlighting the disproportionate growth of prisons in America (largely citing that Pew research study) along with focusing on the skyrocketing increase in unemployment recipients. Truly, they are both major indicators of our society in turmoil and something needs to be done to reverse course.

I think mandatory public service for non-violent crimes (along with counceling and rehabilitation when applicable) is an excellent idea. The .pdf I linked to earlier has shown positive results in States that have already implemented changes like this (Kansas - and lookout, their awesome Gov. is set to be our new HHS secretary!) There are also some other great ideas proposed within.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

MAR 03, 2009 06:57 PM

DevilsReject said:

Sick said:

wildswan said:

PointBlank said:
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ



HAHA!


Also, taking fuel away from the hardcore Mexican cartels will give Dobbs less to go all apoplectic about. That means less money for Brill Cream. That's cruelty to Lou Dobbs.



One doesn't need much money for Brylcreem. A little dab'll do ya!

But in regards to the hardcore Mexican cartels, I wonder how legalization might affect the street gangs? Sure, they deal harder drugs as well, but I'd think marijuana would be a core product.



Marijuana is, if i recall correctly, the biggest (in raw poundage) and usually the most commonly transported drug across the border from Mexico to the United States.

From everything i have read, if it is legalized it would create a huge void in the cartel's finances, which in turn would cripple some of the smaller cartels causing them to collapse.



That would be great. Innocent people could stop dying in epic proportions because of the efforts to supply us with our rec drugs.

DevilsReject

DevilsReject

Cleveland, OH
February 2007

MAR 03, 2009 07:04 PM

wildswan said:

DevilsReject said:

Sick said:

wildswan said:

PointBlank said:
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Agreeing with someone who calls themselves Radical Russ



HAHA!


Also, taking fuel away from the hardcore Mexican cartels will give Dobbs less to go all apoplectic about. That means less money for Brill Cream. That's cruelty to Lou Dobbs.



One doesn't need much money for Brylcreem. A little dab'll do ya!

But in regards to the hardcore Mexican cartels, I wonder how legalization might affect the street gangs? Sure, they deal harder drugs as well, but I'd think marijuana would be a core product.



Marijuana is, if i recall correctly, the biggest (in raw poundage) and usually the most commonly transported drug across the border from Mexico to the United States.

From everything i have read, if it is legalized it would create a huge void in the cartel's finances, which in turn would cripple some of the smaller cartels causing them to collapse.



That would be great. Innocent people could stop dying in epic proportions because of the efforts to supply us with our rec drugs.



Oh hell yea.

I also like the idea of not stuffing our prisons full of non-violent offenders who are serving prison terms that are entirely too long and not accomplishing anything but creating another citizen that hates their government.

I am kind of on the fence about legalizing harder drugs, but to me, keeping marijuana illegal just doesn't make any sense. Legalize it, educate people on it and tax it, just make sure there are regulations for it set into place. (i.e. driving under the influence and all that fun stuff).

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

MAR 03, 2009 07:09 PM

This is a bad idea, not locking up people for drugs will lead to more shit like this happening.



Seriously tho it's about damn time. Violent criminals belong in jail nonviolent ones belong under supervision and a shit ton of community service.

jason

jason

USA
August 2002

MAR 03, 2009 07:10 PM

DevilsReject said:
Legalize it, educate people on it and tax it, just make sure there are regulations for it set into place. (i.e. driving under the influence and all that fun stuff).


what is the current penalty for stopping at a green light?

PatrickY

PatrickY

Vancouver, WA
December 2003

MAR 03, 2009 07:17 PM

DevilsReject said:

I am kind of on the fence about legalizing harder drugs, but to me, keeping marijuana illegal just doesn't make any sense. Legalize it, educate people on it and tax it, just make sure there are regulations for it set into place. (i.e. driving under the influence and all that fun stuff).



The most important regulation would be making those damn day-glo pot leaf posters illegal.* Also, the legalization of pot would lead to a significant decrease in the number of people drenching themselves in patchouli, and that can only be of benefit to the nation.

*and those raggedy assed "rasta" yarn hats. Oh, and Ultimate fucking Frisbee.

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