Marijuana Could Face Strict Regulation, Big Taxes

[Weedpipe]

California - Legislation is in the works at the state capitol that would dramatically change how marijuana is regulated in the state and bring in a good chunk of cash to California's beleaguered state budget.

It has not been introduced yet, but the plan would require everyone involved in the marijuana industry in the state, from growers to distributors to retailers, to register with the state and pay a licensing fee. Marijuana would also be subject to an excise tax, perhaps up to 41 percent, along with other taxes.

Just to help with the score keeping, this is not the proposal to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana, the Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, bill that died a legislative timeline death last month but that should be reintroduced in the next several days.

The latest proposal is being pushed by Board of Equalization member Jerome Horton and to be introduced by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello (Los Angeles County). Horton sponsored tobacco regulation in 2003 to control illegal sales of cigarettes and wants that model applied to marijuana.

In a released statement, Calderon said the proposal would not legalize sale of marijuana beyond the medical dispensaries, "But it will better control legal distribution and help law enforcement crack down on illegal sales," he said. In other words, law enforcement would be able to track the supply of marijuana and know if cannabis is being diverted from medical dispensaries for illegal sale.

It also would ensure that all dispensaries are paying their share of sales taxes to the state. If the industry is brought under compliance, Calderon said it could bring in $1.8 billion a year to the state. We'll dive deeper into the proposal once it is introduced, so stay tuned.



News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: SFGate
Author: Wyatt Buchanan
Contact: SFGate
Copyright: 2010 Hearst Communications Inc.
Website:SFGate: Politics Blog : Marijuana could face strict regulation, big taxes

 

[NormanTBates]

Wow, Ron Calderon you actually want to put medical marijuana and cancer sticks in the same category?? Why dont we put a 41% tax on Prozac or Adderol? Recreational use would be one thing, but we are talking about medicine. I'm all for taxing recreational purchases but that would require legalization. So what do they do? Tax the purchase of medications that's an impressive low, even in our government.

 

[RoguePoet]

I really hope they don't legalize it and decide to tax it prohibitively to keep people from using it, just like they are trying to do with cigarettes....

 

[i2damaxx]

Am just sick of all this people who hide behind the medical side of marijuana.
And really are just recreational users like me. I like to go to my coner liquor store and buy a sack of what ever, insted i have to lie to get High!!

 

[Hieroglyph83]

If this bill passes, it means two things. The government recognizes that marijuana is here to

stay and that it will be become an area that needs to be regulated like alcohol and cancer

sticks. On the other hand, if they tax this industry to harshly, it will push it under ground

again, and the mexican mafias will get to continue their rein of terror.

 

[Irish]

And so I'd have to pay a licensing fee for growing my own medicine? Man, they really want to force me to sell so I can afford to grow, don't they?