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| Can you smoke enough dope to save California? Read the fine print here |
| 2009-07-16 |
As we know, San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano is pushing a bill to legalize and tax marijuana. On Wednesday, the State Board of Equalization told us just how much that would raise: $1.4 billion a year. Wow, that's a lot of pot: 16 million ounces are annually consumed in California, according to the report. You gotta love this state because...uh...uh... we forgot what we were going to say. Oh, yeah: How in the hell do you figure out how much of an illegal quantity is consumed? It's not like the average recreational yuppie user -- and we all know doctors, lawyers, political leaders and educators who blow the occasional doob -- is going to fess up to some alleged "survey taker." Not that they're paranoid. The Board of Equalization's answer is on page 6 of its report. It is basing its figure on "numerous assumptions, all of which come from law enforcement estimates and academic studies." There are a few other interesting tidbits hidden in the stems and seeds of this report: Dope would be cheaper: "Legalization of marijuana would cause its street price to decline by 50 percent. This 50 percent decline in price would lead to additional consumption of 40 percent." But fewer would be smoking: "The imposition of the $50/ounce tax would then lead to reduced consumption of 11 percent." So does this mean that fewer people would smoke because they don't want to pay the tax? And does that mean they'd rather buy from their local dealer -- and save the tax? Up with dope, down with booze and butts: The report says there may be more people smoking dope and fewer smoking cigarettes and drinking. "There could be a 'substitution effect' toward marijuana and away from cigarettes and alcohol." So would you put down the Marlies and beer if weed was legal? What about the munchies? The report claims that "consumers choosing to increase their consumption of marijuana would likely do so by reducing their consumption elsewhere, some of which is subject to the sales and use tax (such as cigarettes), some of which is not (such as groceries and most services)." Which means, you know what's coming next from the Legislature: A Munchies Tax. California NORML notes that "Not included are savings in law enforcement costs for investigating, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning marijuana offenders, which are estimated to total some hundreds of millions per year." So are you ready to do your part to plug California's $26 billion budget gap? |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #16 I smoked grass ONCE, it made me drunk, I don't like being drunk. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-07-16 22:38 |
| #15 Whats the slogan "Dope for Dopes" ??? |
| Posted by: Chief 2009-07-16 22:03 |
| #14 I'm guessing there would be a lot of people willing to do their part to save Kalifornia. Would also unburden law enforcement from dealing with a lot of dopey crimes. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-07-16 19:35 |
| #13 Last ounce I bought set me back $15. Kinda dates me. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-07-16 19:17 |
| #12 From Best of the Web Today: This has a lot of potential. If the tax shortfall continues, the state could start giving out dime bags instead of IOUs. And why not an additional levy on Doritos, pizza and other fast food? Call it the munchies multiplier! |
| Posted by: DoDo 2009-07-16 16:29 |
| #11 Um, what's the street price of weed? $50/ounce seems like an awful lot. Mitch, it's around $400 ounce in SF, but spare a thought for the Japanese, it's 300% dearer. |
| Posted by: tipper 2009-07-16 15:14 |
| #10 Um, what's the street price of weed? $50/ounce seems like an awful lot. Depends. $100-600 an ounce depending on the quality. 1/8oz of "kind" bud can run you $40-80. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-07-16 15:06 |
| #9 Legalise and tax sales in line with beer selling terms and conditions, unilaterally, and set a limit for that pesky home-grown. How many folk here have thought of home-brewing their own beer but never get round to it? |
| Posted by: rhodesiafever 2009-07-16 14:59 |
| #8 I think legalized pot is a great idea, tax revenues or not. Maybe we could get all our chronic drunks to smoke themselves into a stupor instead - they'd be a whole lot less violent. And maybe some of the meth-idiots would do the same. Yeah, the potheads would be non-productive citizens, but that's an improvement over counterproductive. And they'd be harder for ACORN to get moving to the polls on election day. If it ever does become legal buy stock in whoever makes Twinkies and Vanilla Wafers! |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-07-16 14:51 |
| #7 Christ, Penguin, ain't nobody lazier than doped-up stoners. If they don't *have* to grow the crap in their closets with sunlamps, I'm willing to gamble that they won't. I believe you could still reap a hell of a lot of tax revenue if you don't pull this $50-an-ounce crap. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-07-16 14:50 |
| #6 It won't generate that much tax revenue because it is easy to grow in your backyard. As soon as it's legal, everyone will grow their own to avoid the taxes. They could still outlaw growing it, but that will add to the bureaucracy they can't afford anymore. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2009-07-16 13:05 |
| #5 Um, what's the street price of weed? $50/ounce seems like an awful lot. And isn't pot sort of legal in California anyways, what with the "medical" dodge? At this point, I'm in favor of legalizing it across the country & taxing the fuck out of it. Maybe we can get our local hill trash smoking weed instead of stringing out on horse. They couldn't be less useful to society I figure. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-07-16 12:57 |
| #4 California NORML notes that "Not included are savings in law enforcement costs for investigating, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning marijuana offenders, which are estimated to total some hundreds of millions per year." A $50 per ounce tax could generate a lot of personal growing and a lot of bootlegging. I think they overstate the amount they would collect. Preventing tax evasion will still cost money, including investigation, prosecution and penalties. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2009-07-16 12:51 |
| #3 Yeah, the DEA is already regularly closing down Marijuana shops that are legal under California law. What makes Ammiano think they're going to look on his plan any more favorably? |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-07-16 11:57 |
| #2 When we say this state is going to pot we're not joking. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2009-07-16 11:56 |
| #1 Except for the problem of it still being a Federal crime, and the problem of employers firing you for even having traces in your system from a smoky concert a week ago, it is a fine idea. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-07-16 11:16 |