[Editor’s note: This post is excerpted from this week’s forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory.]
Oakland voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the nation’s first ever business tax on retail marijuana sales.
According to preliminary election results, approximately 80 percent of Oakland voters approved the new tax (which appeared on the ballot as Measure F), which imposes an additional tax for “cannabis businesses” of $18 for every $1,000 of gross receipts beginning January 1, 2010.
Presently, Oakland’s medical cannabis dispensaries are taxed at the same rate as other retail sales businesses ($60 per year for the $50,000 of gross receipts, plus $1.20 for each additional $100,000).
Four dispensaries are licensed by the Oakland City Council to sell and dispense medical marijuana.
According to a financial analysis by the Oakland City Auditor, Oakland’s new cannabis business tax will generate an estimated $300,000 in additional annual tax revenue.
Representatives from the Oakland City Council, the California Nurses Association, and the dispensary community publicly advocated for the new tax, which had no formal opposition.
“The passage of this first-in-the-nation tax further legitimizes cannabis-based enterprises in Oakland and elsewhere,” NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. “These outlets are contributing to the health and welfare of their local communities, both socially and now economically. At a time when many municipalities are strapped for tax revenues and cutting public services it is likely that public officials in other cities will begin considering similar proposals.”
See, when we say we want to help our communities by paying our fair share of taxes we mean it. Oakland will be the first city in the USA to reap the monitory blessings of cannabis sales. Why to go!
Way to go Oakland & NORML. I just saw this on CNN and said, let me check out, and low and behold, it’s front page news!
One step closer!
wooo im happy to hear this =) GO CALI
WOOO im so happy lol =), GO Cali
More good news! Go Cali!
Amazing news, hopefully the whole state follows along with other states. When they see how much revenue this produces they would be stupid to not legalize during these hard economic times!
🙂
good job California!
Now all we have to do is work on New Jersey. The WORST state in the country against marijuana business of ANY kind. I am a very ill man with extensive GI disorders anoung other health problems. It’s bad enough dealing with legal worries, but I also get urine tested randomly at work so I am totally out of luck. NO RELIEF in site. And I’m only a plumber! HELP US GOD!!!
Nice to see ppl finally moving toward a “war on drug” free world. We need to continue this and all efforts to end the persecution of the new age minority and work together to make this a peaceful world. Let the ppl decide what is right, let the governments support that. Sadly in this time the only way to change the world is to show them that they can make money without having to persecute ppl. And this is truly a first step. Ty to all who voted on this first step to sanity!
It doesn’t seem right that medical cannabis dispensaries are singled out to pay a surtax above and beyond the norm. Does Walgreeens or CVS or any pharmacy get hit with extra surtaxes just because they sell medicatons? No. So why penalize cannabis dispensaries? Just because they sell cannabis and not Vicodin? There is something wrong with this picture.
In the end this surtax will be passed down to the patient as increased cost of meds. Cannabis patients are suffering enough. They should not be punished with this new tax.
Man I wish I could move back to CA! You know, this sets a Precedent! We still have a long hard fight ahead in other parts of the country, especially in the backward-ass state of KY where I live, but it is heartening to know that the reform is gaining momentum! Congrats to all that fought so hard for this. If I could help in any way I would. I am with you in spirit until I can find a way to help in a concrete way.
They should just make marijuana legal in California and then tax it… This would help California get some extra revenue.
Ah, the news I’ve been waiting for. I must’ve subconsciously known the news finally broke–that’s why I woke in the wee hours of the ‘morn. Actually, I have really screwed up sleep cycles that could benefit from some cannabis, but I have no sources, and med MJ in my state would frown on chronic insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns as a reason for using the herb.
I am not a second-class citizen (and not because I haven’t partaken in years). Stop unnecessarily trying to legislate morality! The founding fathers and Lincoln and others would be outraged over the tyranny of mind and body the citizenry have endured over the past 70+ years, all over a plant!
If science and facts showed cannabis to be such a pernicious substance that melted the brains and physiology of people beyond hope, redemption, and repair, I’d be the first to say ban the vile weed; however, reality shows it to be anything such. There are plenty of legal substances that are a better match to the description above.
I do not advocate prohibition of any substance that anyone wants to put into their body–one’s life, and the health and length of it, are one’s business and choice–the domain of no other. Yes, one does have a responsibility to society, if one enjoys the fruit of that society: a person’s actions should not unreasonably harm and endanger others and should try to promote the overall welfare of the body public. That said, government should never intrude into private affairs, should never try to dictate a mode of living. If people want to toke up and get fat and lazy from eating too much, what of it? Oh wait, we as a nation are pretty much fat, and lazy, obviously, since we’ve based our economy for the past decade on pretty much smoke and mirrors instead of real work and industry. And guess what? It didn’t have anything to do with smoking a plant.
Above I said one does have an obligation to society. I just want to point out to the prohibitionists that YOU are the ones not fulfilling your obligation, unreasonably harming and endangering others with your policies proven to be ineffective and harmful. If you really care for others, repent and give up your unreasonably moralizing, hypocritical ways.
The health of our nation is rooted in the health of its citizens. The health of our citizens should be rooted in enlightened, fact-based compassion, not in moralizing, prejudicial prohibition and persecution. The body, mind, and spirit of our neighbors and ourselves should be nurtured–or repaired–by policies proven to work. Substance abuse should be a health issue, not a criminal one. Any policy or advocating thereof with no basis whatsoever in fact, only in conjecture, fear-mongering, and prejudice, should be prohibited. (Mind that I’m not for censoring freedom of thought and speech of individuals; I’m for limiting the harm that asinine officials can cause, simply for their un factually-based world view.)
[ . . . Unfair and unreasonable policies antithetic to the spirit of the framers of the Declaration and the Constitution? Remember Thoreau. Peaceful civil disobedience as protest! Not that many of you readers really need any reminding of Thoreau . . . ]
If you prohibitionists really care for myself and others, then you’d be smart and want legalization of cannabis and instead prohibit alcohol, tobacco, fast food, cars and their emissions, excess testosterone in young males . . . well, you would be smart in legalizing cannabis, but enough of my sarcasm.
Well, I think I’ve uncluttered my spirit and mind sufficiently to get my early day going, so I’ll just end with a Well Done Oakland!
This just in Chicago Suntimes, Unicorporated Cook Co. having less than 10 grams will get you a 200 dollor ticket. Leave it to Chicago Pols if they want to be re-elected
Oh my GOD this news is amazing. I don’t live in CA, but this indeed sets a precedent! I hope this approval sets a trend for the rest of the country!
I’m not at all sure that this sets a good example. Why should cannabis be taxed at rates higher than any other retail product? I commend the cannabis outlets for their sacrifice, but this special tax rate is hardly fair.
Oaksterdam sounds like my dream place to live. If only more cities could be as amazing as theirs. Richard Lee is a hero. History is being written and it’s people like him that will be remembered for making the world a better place to live in.
I wish that Canada would hurry up and follow suit… WAY TO GO OAKLAND!!
One small step for man ……One giant leap for mankind ! Florida are you getting this ?
Thank you! I hope this spreads to other states, even ones where no form of cannabis has been legalized, such as big cities like New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. They should just decide they’re not pursuing law enforcement on cannabis and turnaround and tax it; those who pay the tax would always win if taken to court on grounds of double jeopardy, and as I recall there is a judicial law about this although I can’t recall the name of the court case right now. They could define the zoning along lines of the Dutch policy/gedoogbeleid. That would fill in points between cannabis friendly Boston and Washington, D.C. The east coast megalopolis is liberal enough to take the steps.
It’s long overdue. Legalize now.
Upon hearing the news, I was both shocked and relieved! Thank you Oakland!
I live in what is often referred to as the “Bubble of Criminal Justice”, or Death Penalty Texas. I have a select number of friends that are activists for marijuana laws, and have told me time and time again that we would definitely see marijuana legalized in our lifetime. Living in this ‘bubble’ I seriously doubted these statements. I was so used to hearing that it was nearly impossible…there weren’t enough pot heads in the government…people are set in their ways… And this heard from professors, parents, community members, and fellow colleagues. Our bubble had us believing that we were the ‘norm’, and that everyone around the country thought like us. Hell, I had no idea what a dispensary was until I saw Marijuana Inc. on CNBC. And the Emerald Triangle?
So of course I see now! And I understand what marijuana is, and how it works. I am surrounded by naive and ignorant individuals that only stick to what they know. Oakland is surely the door opening, that maybe one day, those that are ignorant can see the truth, and not judge others.
Hooray lets tax the sick people!!!
WOW, Nice work Oakland , BUT… WE SHOULD legalize all hemp products PERIOD ! think of all the revenue from the many spin-off industries, textiles, food,delivery systems, tourisum, cultivation ,and the list goes on and on ! ppl would chill and crime would go down ! police would be free to pursue REAL CRIME ! AMERICA would be working again ! ITS A WIN WIN FOR THE GOOD OF AMERICA !END THE CRIME OF PROHIBITION NOW!
YES! Go Cali! This could be the beginning of a domino effect throughout our country, one can only hope.
If you operate a “legal” cooperative, or collective, which are the only two legally recognized entities in the State of California, you must be licensed by the State Franchise Tax Board, and the Board of Equalization. Retail sales tax of 1.8% is nothing new.
Remember…we’re talking about medicinal use. Cannabis
is not “LEGAL” yet…but it will be… come next year.
This is a great shot at public awareness though.
While I agree that this is a step forward for legalization, I am very saddened that a tax is being placed on medicine. I never had to pay a tax on my migraine meds. at Kaiser. Now that I’m not able to use either of those medicines, I’ll be paying a tax on my cannabis. Seems unfair. I agree, the cost will eventually be passed on to patents.
Now if they would just legalize it for adult general use, look at the revinue just in tourism alone that it would bring into the state. Think about all the jobs it would create for the state. From restruants-fuel-hotels-motels all the amusment parks. And thats not counting the tax on all of these things. everybody would benifit. Kinda like stimulating there own economy. Just a thought.
The Flintster
Its about time they do something about this. Marijuana needs to be legalized just for the fact that it creates more problems by labeling users criminals. If that is so at least 15% of the USA citizens are criminals if not even more.
Finally, change is coming.
I cant express enough how happy I am to see this I have been waiting for this for a long time and now its here! I am celebrating with a few bong rips right now LOL! Keep it up Cali! And NORML and Mr. Allen St. Pierre I cant thank you guys enough for sticking this war out with us I am so thankful for everything yall do.
Mike H
All this says is that patients are being asked to pay more. The only resulting benefit is increased public opinion for decrim/legalization as marijuana is seen as a vehicle for easing budget shortfalls.
Short term it unfairly costs patients more.
@ 34 Brian: Think about it in terms of smalls steps. First, it’s tax on medical marijuana – which shows that marijuana has medicinal value and a viable source for cash. Next, it’ll challenge the Control Substance Act of 1970, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic meaning it has NO medicinal value and is the same class as heroin. Obviously, people will then put out the huge discrepancy and will demand the government change it – either reschedule or *most likely* take it out all together and legalize it and regulate/tax it like alcohol and tobacco.
We’re just taking it one step at a time – but Prohibition will end once in for all guaranteed.
Hey lawmakers, governer, and general population of the non-mighty state of Kansas: Please take the straw shoot out of your mouth and your hand off your cousins ass and pay close attention to california.
Prohibitionists and their ilk will make cannabis users pay dearly, bleeding them for every single cent to be had. If you think drug dealers are amoral, greedy profiteers, wait until the government tax man comes to collect. This is why the reason cannabis should be re-legalized is because not to do so, violates God’s will for people to live in freedom with liberty as acknowledged and cited in the Constitution of the United States. Please note this justification includes nothing about taxing consumption of the flowering tops of a common weed that is less addictive than coffee and less toxic than water.
SUCKER’S, I got you now, as I tax you out of business and existence. You will see the true color’s of the greedy people, Oh, help me I can’t afford to keep my welfare state going, I know let’s hit the dope smoker’s in the pocket, LIKE, Cannabis is already to expensive, Where will you get the tax money if I grow my own?, Oh, I see if I grow my own I’m a criminal, Just because I chose to self medicate WITHOUT permission, Well, up yours, If I can’t be free with my weed, then the hell with all of you sheeple, bend over for the man to stick it to you and no lube. YOU’LL SEE. I’M RIGHT, USUALLY AM, don’t want to hear it when the sky is falling and you are under the gun, being told Because I said so that’s why, and then they take everything you thought you had, and now you live in a ditch off some highway in a box. Or in a cell with a number for a name. Don’t you know you as an American working in America, you are not liable for income tax and none of that money does anything for you or this country, only local an state sale’s and purchase tax is the only revenue the state get’s period… BAA,BAA, little sheep, now we have you where we want you, now we are going to eat you. PEACE!!! AL…
Outstanding. I’ve been waiting to see what the outcome of this would be. Over 80 percent in favor. I hope other states take notice.
I see people upset by this because it taxes sick people. I understand this but we have to show America this tax can really work. I agree its an unnessesary hardship on those who are sick. The answers are not easy here. Hopefull we could get this legal for everyone and have some equaliaztion on whats fair tax.The price of cannabis will drop when it fully legal for all. We will get there people.
Besides, if it werent for legal med cannabis, all you sick folks would getting your med cannabis from a street dealer…illegally. Pros- cons?
This is a big step toward public acceptance. Maybe it will be a bit tougher on patients for a while but think how much easier legalization would be for them???
For those of you that think this is a negative thing or that it will effect the cost of medicine to patients keep this in mind….
This tax is a business tax. A tax the cannabis dispensaries welcome. The consumer is not being taxed here. It will not cost the consumer a dime. If business owners were to try and recoup these taxes by raising the cost of the medicine then they would become non-competitive. This is a step forward for cannabis medicine consumers! We want communities to get a piece of the revenue stream from cannabis sales. Once people get a taste of cannabis tax dollars they will want to keep it and they will promote its benefits in other areas.
It doesn’t seem right to tax something that is being used to medically make a persons life viable. It would make sense to just legalize the crap and tax it. Then move on form this bullcrap politics of moralizing others with your self as a model. Hypocritical azzholes that are obviously getting their kicks outta hurting others.
I think we would all be willing to pay a tax that provided us with clean good quality medicine. If I were allowed to go to my local dispensary and purchase cannabis that I know how it was grown and by whom I would gladly pay a little tax on top of the price especially if I thought it was going to do my community some good. If this in anyway helps the cause of lifting cannabis prohibition then it is a step in the right direction. I don’t think sick people should be asked to do more than their fair share to support their city in tough times. If cannabis were legal for all to use then this would be a much better thing.
For what it is worth, all the posts make sense. We need to get it legal for everyone!
Way to go Oakland! Now maybe everybody will follow suit. I hope that the cannabis market becomes a legal market everywhere. I want to pay taxes, to help this country get out of dept, and to pay for new advancements in our society.
Thank you NORML for this great news.
To discuss one of the very valid points I see above, it was *my impression* that this was a TAX UPON THE BUSINESS, Not the PATIENT. That is how I understood it from the articles I read, so I hope THE REALITY of the tax is that it stays on the Business, and not the patient! Also, since I am not a Californian I have no way to know how things are done in practicality. I was under the impression that these dispensaries had a “not for profit” model, so that nobody got “shafted” on the price of their medicine, the business could survive, and the taxes were just “cream off the top”. In other words, the business won’t be making any more money, but the taxes will funnel into the system.
I see this as a way of showing that the MM community is one of the most willing to help the economy along with helping the interested parties. As I see it nobody gets hurt – but if I am wrong, please respond so I can be fully informed. This is a great first step IMO. Let me know if I am wrong!
LOL wow! For those of you freakin out about a tax being levied on medical cannabis. Ok ,I agree , cannabis should be free to all,it should be legal to all. But starting here and making it a legal buisness has to happen. If you dont like it,the easies thing for you to do is just go back getting it illegaly. I dont know bout the rest of ya,but once its legal, I will clean out a closet and grow myself one or two nice plants a year…Because I know how to. If I have to pay a small tax so be it. If the tax man gets greedy,well that falls back to the realm of the black market ..again. This will be a fine line to walk. Lets find the way to make this happen. Being inflexable here wont help.
This doesn’t seem like good news to me. Seems like we’re having to unfairly pay even more money for our medicine. The medical marijuana dispensaries were ALREADY being taxed. Now they’re being taxed even more.
DC are you paying attention??? 80%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%5
CFJ
The court case mentioned above was Dr Timothy Leary’s – the double jeopardy clause came into issue because of the previous tax stamps (prior to controlled substances act which came about in 1971 or so and which put cannabis in schedule 1 thanks to Nixon and other dick’s).
The tax stamps are long gone – the double jeopardy issue no longer relevant along with em.
While I abhor taxes on principle as a form of plunder (anyone remember Bastiat?) – i realize the positive benefit this will have for the movement in general. If we view the state of California as a bunch of individual domino’s at the local level, very very broke domino’s at that, the first revenue domino has fallen and others are sure to follow. Thank you NORML, thank you California NORML, all other grassroots advocacy groups and all the dispensaries and private business owners for making this a reality!
Let us just hope the politicians don’t get ganja tax crazy and price the truly needy or those on fixed incomes out of quality life saving medicine.
Hopefullyy the government will classify it as what it is. A PLANT. Something that has been growing on this planet since God knows when and let us choose if we want to grow it or not. Its the man made drugs that are dangerous, coke, heroin, meth. Quit focusing on Cannabis as a crime and go after the real dangerous drugs.
this isnt really anything good… it’s for a tax on medical marijuana, which means in the long run the medicine will cost more… legalize and tax commercial marijuana, don’t tax legitimate medicine.
NativeSonKY Says:
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
“To discuss one of the very valid points I see above, it was *my impression* that this was a TAX UPON THE BUSINESS, Not the PATIENT. That is how I understood it from the articles I read, so I hope THE REALITY of the tax is that it stays on the Business, and not the patient! ”
———————
Who do you think ends up paying for the taxes…. the customer always does, just indirectly without you noticing (increase prices of product to counter taxes that have to be paid). Although this tax doesn’t seem like too much
Great news! I dont mind a bigger tax if I can help my community while smoking legaly, thats fine by me as long as the prices dont get too outragious.
finally some sense is being made in all this. if the government is willing to listen, they would probably hear a LOT more of this nationwide.. way to go!!
This is a good thing
ahh the good life…go cali!
The problem with “Government” is the fact that it has gotten so large ,its a separate entity instead of the extension of “We The People” it was created to be.
“We The People” are suppose to control the “Government” not be controlled by it.That being said NOW its time for
“We The People” to stop sitting by silently and allowing the steady erosion of our Liberties.Our Ancestors died so we could have them but its up to us to preserve them.If we all do our part we can reverse this cycle of erosion .Vote ,don’t just assume your vote don’t matter. Write,E-mail,Call your State Representatives,let them know how you want to be represented on all the issues ,don’t assume they will make the right decision.And we need to always vote for the new man,re-electing breeds corruption that’s how we got in this situation voting them ALL out is the only fix.this is my assessment, am i alone on this ? Or is this the general consensus?
go cali lead the nation and hopefully Indiana god knows we need it
It’s about time now can we get the rest of Northern Cali or the whole state to agree that marijuana has real medical uses!
bromontana Says:
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
———————
Who do you think ends up paying for the taxes…. the customer always does, just indirectly without you noticing (increase prices of product to counter taxes that have to be paid). Although this tax doesn’t seem like too much
________
Well, I’m 50 yrs. old and I sure know how things work, yes. BUT – the dispensaries in CA are NOT FOR PROFIT as I understand. And you’re correct – when broken up by the ounce and quarter ounce, the patient stands to pay very little tax. Also, I’d have to commend the providers in CA as being a compassionate lot who won’t pass any big increases in price due to the tax. AT least I would hope so!
Just be glad you don’t live in KY, where we live 50 years behind the times as compared to CA. It is my hope to someday move back to CA also since I have a need for the weed myself. As with any new advance on the marijuana subject it is going to take awhile to iron out the details. I really hope it stays affordable for the patients and also becomes completely legalized in which case the taxes can be put on the commercial sales where it would generate MUCH more income for a state that badly needs it.
I’m WITH you ALL in Spirit!
John in KY
Yo! Califorina is a done deal! If you want to talk to someone about the advantages, talk to someone who is against it, or is just plain ignorant (uninformed). 85% of Californians are for it. You need to talk to the 15% who are against it. Quit talkin’ to the easy sell…talk to the hard sell. Let’s make it 99.9%.
all eyes are on you Cali!
Bye , Bye Alcohol , Drug and tobacco Companies . Despite your Billions of dollars in your obvious attempt to do everything to snuff out marijuana you are losing the battle because we the people are bringing the public truth about the safety ( not harm like your dope ) of marijuana . We have little money but , WE WILL WIN THIS BATTLE .
61 Jared and 62 Justin are you guys up for CDXX Communion.
62 Every county in California is in for MPP. That’s what HS 11362.5 and SB420 is all about. Justin…Northern California looks like an over-grown chia pet.
This doesn`t help there are people still fighting casesin Solano county Ca. cases that Das in difference parts of the state would dismiss but not Solano county the power that be refuse to follow state law prop 215 or ab 420 we need help in Solano county.
Now,if we could get this kind of support for changing our government ,as we see here fighting drug policy,we wouldnt have this problem. The main issue IS controlling our government,not them controlling us. They we would have real change with common sense, not the bull shiy we see happening everyday on the news. How much you wanna bet they pass this health care bill whether we the people want it or not? Its just another bill to be used to control the masses.
Awesome! As other counties/cities see how well this is going to work out for Oakland, especially in a cash-strapped state such as California, I expect to see many others follow.
It is also a big help that the Obama Administration is not wasting federal resources and tax dollars on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries who abide by state laws. This is very unlike the Bush Administration. Oh how I do not miss the “Bush Era!” Haha!
We are almost there guys (and gals)! NORML, GREAT JOB, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
To everyone else, keep fighting and DO NOT GIVE UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! We are way too close to even CONSIDER GIVING UP!
Contact your elected officials, voice your opinion here and on other prominent websites such as The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/), tell all of your friends about the current and new legislation to come, and follow the big media coverage Marijuana is continuing to get!
68 Medical User
Did you hear about Butte County, and how we sue their asses now for de facto action.
Just want to throw this in as well. For those who are writing their reps please also discuss how we don’t need govt controlling our health care. Take a long hard look @ the UK and Canada and ask some people just how great their health care is. People are having to wait weeks, months and years just to get in to have tests, checks and operations. This is why those people who are being placed on the back burner in their own country are traveling to the US to get treatment. That should say it all right there. I thought I heard someone say before “If it’s not broke then we’re not fixing it.” If this health care reform bill is so great then why doesn’t congress/senate/govt accept the same coverage for it’s employees? Members in congress don’t want it, so why is it so great for everyone else? Either they think people are really that stupid to keep blindly following their lead as they suck us dry or they know that people aren’t as stupid as they think but they believe theirs nothing we can do about anything. Their wrong! I would like the assurance that if anything were to happen to any of my loved ones, myself or any of you that we can all get help if we need it. Not to wait until the situation gets worse then discard someone for being too sick or untreatable. I’m not willing to place my life, and neither should anyone else, in an invisible board of bureaucrats to determine whether or not I am eligible to receive aid for what ails me. By the way it’s another bill that is thousands of pages that our reps could pass w/o reading it. Please, read the bill in it’s entirety and you will see exactly what I’m talking about. Anyone who reads any of these bills would see just how uncouth some people can be. Quit with the politics! These are people’s lives your messing with and I feel we’re being pushed to a ledge. I have nowhere to go and I’m slowly being pushed to that ledge so what can I do. Fight or flight response and if we all fight instead of jump then they won’t have a choice but to listen. Politics? More like poli-ticks. Blood hungry parasites.
72 A
I wixh every single person in this great country could read what you have just posted. You coudn’t be more right, period, period, period. Please…listen to A folks. This comes from 35 years a healthcare consultant and mediator. When they gain control of your healthcare, they got you “BODY AND SOUL,” and you will soon know what putty in their hands feels like.
Your brain won’t amount to, well! as they say…”SHIT FOR BRAINS.”
71. Anonymous Says – 68 medical user – sue their asses for de facto action?
..may something along the line got nipped in the Butte!
GREAT NEWS!!!! Now I’m sure the other counties will follow suit since they don’t want all their residents sales taxes going to the city of Oakland.
WAKE UP SAN FRANCISCO AND THE REST OF THE BAY AREA, at the moment this is the duck laying the golden eggs!!! Other cities need that $$$$$ as well just to keep food on the tables.
Oh no…please let’s don’t debate the health care issues alongside the Marijuana Reform issue – it’s just not a good idea. I won’t bother to inject my view except to say that ANY health care would be better than what I have now, which is none, except the ER. And alarmists of ANY type are not to be trusted in my experience…
76 NativeSonKY
We have the greatest healthcare system in the world…what could be better? Except for socialized medicine aka insurance companies, government is NOT in our healthcare, unless one is on welfare aka social services. Medicare is a different story…but its still controlled. I agree…we should not mix apples and oranges.
(added by Mobile using Mippin)
I have said for 35 years if pot was legal we could end paranoia ,take the revenue and stop the hard drugs and show that people who smoke arent drugies just people who like a little buzz at the end of the day so they can get up the next day and go to their jobs without a problem ,spend time with there families and enjoy the one thing the good lord put here to be consumed in this manner, its absolutly natural and now if the rest of America sees this and follows through we can take the profit away from the cartels and eliminate the flow of precious green money from leaving our great country. post script A big high five to Carlo Santana who laid it right on the line.
On the surface I tip my hat to Oakland, Ca. and NORML for this accomplishment… but offering my ‘2 $ence’ on a deeper thought.
—
The Times – They Are A Changing:-]
Can you believe this load of CRAP! (Crazy-Radical-American-Politics)
After a government that has ‘demonized’ one of God’s natural wonders of medicinal healing through plant life – marijuana – for almost a century now… they find a way to get their greedy little paws wedged into our ‘American Health System’ by taxing it, with some even taunting it as a solution to our – American Bail-Out Plan. WTF!
Don’t buy into this load of CRAP. It’s just another ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’ strategy produced to blindside us of their corrupt nature.
The USA should provide ‘FREE Clinics’ on how to grow and maintain our medicine within the confines of our own private properties and use.
This type of Medicine should be FREE. I’m so sick of mother-fuckers knocking at your door, standing there looking like ‘Mother Theresa’ holding a shiv behind their ‘unacceptable’ spineless backs!
We grow tomatoes in our back yards don’t we?
Stand Up & Fight – not just to ‘FREE the WEED’ but our ‘GOD Given Right’ to grow ‘FREE WEED’!
Don’t be a pussy – make some noise on this issue… my tomatoes are ripe and ready to be tossed at any unforgiving law that stomps across what should be my constitutional right to legal and affordable healthcare.
pEACE,
hAROLD
80 hAROLD mORALES
Says: The Times They are a Changing!
“The one who would be constant in happiness must frequently change.”
Great posts. Gives me hope.
Hey Rebel…
Bob Dylan said it first…
p,
h
major progress in reforming marijuana laws! now Idaho (and everyone else) just needs to get on board! i agree you should be able to “grow your own” tax-free but even by regulating legal taxed-sales to the public, i wont bitch. too bad it took them billions of dollars (that they didnt have) and 80+ years, to open their minds and start looking at the subject rationally. nobody should be penalized for choosing to relax with a natural, safe (PROVE me wrong) alternative that you can actually function on, vs. popping pills and drinking which you can acquire legally. Not to mention the multi-BILLION dollar revenue it brings in which would otherwise be collected by druglords. I dont understand why its even a question.
C-R-A-P = Crazy Radical American Politics
Re: What Chris says #84 – ‘Major Progress’ I say ‘Major Acceptance’
While all the brainiacs are up on Capitol Hill outlining the “Legal Conditions of Cannabis’… in my not so humble opinion…
1) They should spell out that anyone has the right and/or choice to use or grow Cannabis and that you must use it in as part of your HealthCare – To be Licensed to Grow and harvest it.
2) They should spell out that there should be NO Monetary Value attached so as to keep out the Criminal Element$ surrounding cannabis. ( there is enough profit to made of the manufacturing of Bongs, Pipes, Rolling Papers, Vaporizer’s etc… not even beginning to discuss Clothing, Food, Fuel and numerous other uses of this product.
3) Individuals whom are too disabled, the elderly or individuals who just plain want it packaged and sent to them could call upon a Licensed Grower who should be required to setup a portion of their harvest to supply to these individuals at a small cost, $mall as in reasonable costs to cover Harvesting, Shipping and Handling expenses. That is TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
Anyone who agrees with this idea say – HERE YE!
pEACE,
hAROLD
Moderator please delete my first comment on this same topic if approved. Thanks
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C-R-A-P = Crazy Radical American Politics
Re: What Chris says #84 – ‘Major Progress’ I say ‘Major Acceptance’
While all the brainiacs are up on Capitol Hill outlining the “Legal Conditions of Cannabis’… in my not so humble opinion…
1) They should spell out that anyone has the right and/or choice to use or grow Cannabis and that you must use it in as part of your HealthCare – To be Licensed to Grow and harvest it.
2) They should spell out that there should be NO Monetary Value attached so as to keep out the Criminal Element$ surrounding cannabis. ( there is enough profit to made of the manufacturing of Bongs, Pipes, Rolling Papers, Vaporizer’s etc… not even beginning to discuss Clothing, Food, Fuel and numerous other uses of this product.
3) Individuals whom are too disabled, the elderly or individuals who just plain want it packaged and sent to them could call upon a Licensed Grower who should be required to setup a portion of their harvest to supply to these individuals at a small cost, $mall as in reasonable costs to cover Harvesting, Shipping and Handling expenses. That is TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
4) Regarding Age appropriateness. This should be a Parental Rights issue. How many kids out there are on Ritalin or other ADHD drugs… or allowed to take a sip off your nice cold brewski when your not looking.
Anyone who agrees with this idea say – HERE YE!
pEACE,
hAROLD
BONG! 🙂
“A Drug Against War, The Chronic”
People who are going to smoke will smoke. The U.S can continue to SPEND BILLIONS of dollars on irrational laws on Marijuana from the P.O’s to the jail housing for potheads. Yet they have no problem making billions off the tobacco and alcohol sales which KILL thousands of people each year. Besides that the Cartels make millions off the sales which will continue. I guess the govt. can let the $ go where they will. When you are that close minded on a subject, based on propaganda vs. FACTS is ignorance in my opinion.
Plus, i think it would CUT DOWN on harder drug use if pot was available as alcohol is. Im sure if people still had to bootleg alcohol, the bootleggers would have more to offer, as they are already in the business of illicit sales.
Many millions of former Cali residents bailed out of there because of excessively high taxes and fees. That would include me and my family. Yeah, go Cali while you enjoy your brain drain; intelligent educated wealthy people do not hang around and watch ever larger portions of their income go into a failed state, they get the Hell out of Dodge!
Better take a closer look at this new tax because it very well may empower Oakland to increase the tax by a vote of the commissioners. Taxes never legitimize anything ; more often they hurt the poor