Pot Can Fix the Budget Mess, Legislator Says
Former SF supervisor wants public to cash in on $13.8 billion pot crop
By JACKSON WEST
Updated 12:18 PM PST, Mon, Mar 2, 2009
State legislator Tom Ammiano wants to effectively legalize -- and tax -- California's trade in cannabis.
His bill "would remove all penalties in California law on cultivation, transportation, sale, purchase, possession, or use of marijuana, natural THC, or paraphernalia for persons over the age of 21," Ammiano's press secretary Quintin Mecke told the San Francisco Weekly.
Ammiano, a rookie state legislator and former San Francisco supervisor, may have a unique opportunity to win support for the bill in the wake of the state's budget debacle.
Mecke suggested taxes on the trade could amount to $1 billion according to advocates.
And I'd bet that's a conservative estimate.
Estimates value the state's crop of marijuana at $13.8 billion, double that of the vegetable and grape markets combined. Nationwide, it may be the fourth largest cash crop, behind corn, soy and hay, but ahead of wheat.
The proposed bill would allow Californians over the age of 21 to grow, transport, sell, possess and consume the plant, with state and local law enforcement professionals barred from enforcing the federal ban.
The tax would amount to $50 per ounce of marijuana, which retails on the black market for anywhere from $250 to $500 depending on the source and quality.
While it may sound like a pipe dream, with communities from the emerald triangle of Humboldt, Mendecino and Trinity Counties to liberal districts all along California's cost all strapped for cash, other lawmakers and voters might just tune in and turn on.
Frankly, I think they should sign an endorsement deal with Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps.
Jackson West figures libertarian stoners will inevitably complain about the tax.
First Published: Feb 23, 2009 10:43 AM PST
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