OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Washington is one of four states where measures to legalize and regulate marijuana have been introduced, and about two dozen other states are considering bills ranging from medical marijuana to decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the herb.
Legalization bills were introduced in California and Massachusetts earlier this year, and this month, New Hampshire and Washington state prefiled bills in advance of their legislative sessions that begin in January. Marijuana is illegal under federal law, but guidelines have been loosened on federal prosecution of medical marijuana under the Obama administration.
Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, a Seattle Democrat who is sponsoring the legalization bill in Washington state, said that she “wanted to start a strong conversation about the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana.”
Under her bill, marijuana would be sold in Washington state’s 160 state-run liquor stores, and customers, 21 and older, would pay a tax of 15 percent per gram.
Wait a minute. A 15% tax “per gram”? Does that make any sense? Isn’t fifteen-percent of something still fifteen-percent no matter how much of it you have? If I buy a gram that’s taxed 15% or I buy a ton that’s taxed 15%, the 15% is still 15%, right?
Also, I would caution Washington lawmakers about this idea of selling weed in the liquor stores. We polled that idea in Oregon and it was soundly rejected by the tokers, the drinkers, and the teetotalers. The pot smokers didn’t want marijuana associated with a dangerous drug like alcohol and a corrupt institution like the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The alcohol drinkers didn’t want a bunch of potheads in their liquor stores. And the teetotalers thought putting weed with alcohol sent the message that weed is to be celebrated like alcohol is in our culture.
While these four states’ likelihood of actually passing legalization is fairly low, it is remarkable that marijuana legalization is now a topic that can be broached at our highest levels of government without being laughed out of the statehouse.
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I dont even know why there should be a debate on marijuana legalization. It is a plant not a drug. The reason it is against the law in the first place is the corrupt politicians were paid by the money whores to make it illegal. Our country does not opperate on right and wrong anymore, it opperates on what the power brokers tell them to do to gain them more money. I mean how much is enough money ? When you awake in the morning and decide to fly to Paris to get a donut you have plenty of money, why do you need or want more ? Money Whores ! William Randolph Hurst’s brother in law just so happened to be Harry ASS linger the jackass that lied to the American people to make it illegal. As to help Hurst and his paper mills keep making more and more money from his paper mills. The American people NEED to vote out EVERY single one of the residing politicians that support these stupid laws and practices and try to get some honest people in there. To have to piss in a jar to get and hold a job ? I mean really is that the direction our founding fathers would have us go ? That is plain and simple communism !
Quite!
If we can work to end the so-called “sin taxes” on alcohol and tobacco, then that would be consistent with opposing legalization due to a “sin tax” on marijuana.
So long as we have the right to grow our own, no overly-burdensome tax scheme on marijuana can ever last.
Legalize and regulate? Hmmm…sniff, sniff.. That “regulate” smells a lot like “tax.” Don’t be fooled.
Of course, I believe that regulation is the proper role for government’s involvement with consciousness altering substances. Mostly to control availability to the product so that those who fail to use it responsibly are denied access. That’s an easy thing to do. Pass your educational classes about the substances you want to use, allow yourself to be observed for a few experiences, then go get your license updated so you can purchase your substance of choice.
If you are unable to manage your use of the product responsibly, then your license to purchase will be revoked. If you provide to a person whose license is revoked, and they have problems again, your license is revoked.
Generally, this would allow responsible users access to the product, while denying (or at least constraining) access to those who do not use the products responsibly. That is the proper role of government. That government is best which is the least, only restricting the freedom of the people when absolutely necessary, and then, only to the extent absolutely necessary.
No need to burden the people with elaborate tax schemes. Just end prohibition.
-ED
SWEEET if this does happen ima be happy as hell i live in WA btw its an evergreen state !!!
When people in authority discuss pot their minds go blank and common sense becomes extinct. I guess cannabis actually does cause a mental breakdown in non users and politicians.
I would think head shops would be more appropriate and educated enough in the field to sell MJ than a liquor store. To go to the liquor store to get weed is like going to my farmer’s market to get IT repair.