CA: A Look At Tax Propositions And Legalizing Medical Marijuana

[Katelyn Baker]

There is an overwhelming number of propositions on this year's statewide ballot. - 17 in total.

As part of our You Decide 2016 coverage we're breaking down each one of these measures over the next several days.

In this report, Monte Francis takes a look at two tax measures and a move to legalize recreational marijuana.

The tax in Prop 55 is not new, but is an extension of a temporary tax increase approved by voters in the last election when they voted for Prop 30.

Prop 55 would extend that tax by 12 years, but only for Californians earning more than $250,000.

It's estimated the tax would generate between four and $9 billion a year for public schools, and $2 billion dollars a year for health care for low-income patients.

Prop 56 would also help fund the state's Medi-Cal program by hitting cigarette smokers where it hurts most - their wallets.

The measure proposes increasing the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 87 cents by $2 to $2.87.

The proposed tax on cigarettes may seem steep, but right now, California has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the country. In New York, for example, the tax per pack is $4.35.

An equivalent tax would also apply to other tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

If it passes Prop 56 would bring in an addition one to $1.4 billion to state coffers during the next fiscal year.

If Prop 64 passes, California would become the fourth US state to legalize the use of recreational marijuana.

It would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and would allow individuals to grow as many as six pot plants, Voters turned down a similar measure in 2010.

This time the initiative was partially bankrolled by former Facebook President Sean Parker, and is backed by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

A 15 percent sales tax could generate more than a $1 billion annually for youth programs, environmental protection and law enforcement across the state.

News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: A Look At Tax Propositions And Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Author: Staff
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[Icemud]

It would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and would allow individuals to grow as many as six pot plants, Voters turned down a similar measure in 2010.

This time the initiative was partially bankrolled by former Facebook President Sean Parker, and is backed by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

A 15 percent sales tax could generate more than a $1 billion annually for youth programs, environmental protection and law enforcement across the state.

It makes it sound all peaches and creme, but doesn't say that it also allows local city and county governments to ban cannabis business, it also doesn't show that some cities like San Clemente are requiring that if you want to grow your 6 plants, you much purchase a license from the city government, which then means your name is public... and what kind of future ramifications can that have on insurance, jobs, child protective services, loans...etc??? there is no protection!

The cute little phrasing of this makes it seem like the taxes are going to help california in such tremendous ways, however, it doesn't show the real breakdown... Nothing for the general fund, nothing for k-12 education or schools, nothing for public infrastructure, the only environment protection that is designated for taxes is land destroyed by illegal grow ops... it also fails to mention...


$2 million per year to the UC San Diego Center for Medical Cannabis Research to study medical marijuana.
$10 million per year for 11 years for public California universities to research and evaluate the implementation and impact of Proposition 64. Researchers would make policy-change recommendations to the California Legislature and California Governor.
$3 million annually for five years to the Department of the California Highway Patrol for developing protocols to determine whether a vehicle driver is impaired due to marijuana consumption.
$10 million, increasing each year by $10 million until settling at $50 million in 2022, for grants to local health departments and community-based nonprofits supporting "job placement, mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, system navigation services, legal services to address barriers to reentry, and linkages to medical care for communities disproportionately affected by past federal and state drug policies."

The remaining revenue would be distributed as follows:[1]

60 percent for youth programs, including drug education, prevention, and treatment.
20 percent to prevent and alleviate environmental damage from illegal marijuana producers.
20 percent for programs designed to reduce driving under the influence of marijuana and a grant program designed to reduce negative impacts on health or safety resulting from the proposition.



So a very good portion of the taxes are going towards prohibition research, police, drug programs??? Sounds hypocritical IMO!