Last winter, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano unveiled legislation designed to legalize and tax California’s huge marijuana industry. The tax could bring in $1 billion in revenue to the state. Calilfornia is currently suffering from a $26.3 billion budget shortfall.
Pot advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project plans this week to air a television commercial in support of such a law. They say pot users are eager and willing to pay taxes.
The 30-second spot, airing Wednesday and paid for by the Marijuana Policy Project, features a retired 58-year-old state worker who says state leaders “are ignoring millions of Californians who want to pay taxes.”photo by warrantedarrest
“We’re marijuana consumers,” says Nadene Herndon of Fair Oaks, who says she began using marijuana after suffering multiple strokes three years ago. “Instead of being treated like criminals for using a substance safer than alcohol, we want to pay our fair share.” [CBS5]
For California’s medical pot users, such a tax would go a long way to legitimizing marijuana as an accepted medicine. Others think that a desperate California legislature is searching for answers in questionable places.
It is about time!! Talk about revenue for the State of California.
it may help with californias debt situation but it is an item that is to easily grown and sold illegaly everywhere. im not saying that it is a bad idea im just saying that this needs to be thought thru a little more.
O No DONT TAX THAT POT… 60 is hard enough!
Marijuana is not a bad thing when used correctly. Yeah people do bad things when on it but people do bad things anyway. OPEN YOUR EYES, THERE IS ALOT OF MONEY IN IT. The drug dealer down the street is making enough that he could buy the school that your kids go to. Thats a brand new road, or stop light, and maybe alittle back each year.
HOW COME OUR GOVERMENT IS LOCKING PEOPLE UP FOR SOMETHING THAT GROWS OUT OF THE GROUND AND WE THE PEOPLE ARE LETTING THAT HAPPEN?????
WE NEED TO BE LIKE AMSTERDAM,THATS ALL THERE IS TO IT.IF I WANT TO SMOKE WEED;WELL THAT’S JUST NOBODYS BUSINESS BUT MY OWN!!!