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Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)
47. This is the kind of ultra crap that helped sink Prop 19 in California.
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 02:28 PM
Jan 2013

Most people don't give a shit about pot. They don't smoke it. They don't think about. It's not a big issue.

They do give a shit about things like taxes and public services. The revenue from taxation argument is probably the strongest one legalization has. If legalizing weed can put money in the general fund, people who don't care about pot will vote for it, as we have seen in Colorado and Washington.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have issues with the initiatives in both states, more so with Washington's, which doesn't provide for personal cultivation and has that DUID provision (an unnecessary sop to scared parents, as Colorado showed by winning without having such a provision). But they are both legalization, albeit limited legalization. In Washington and Colorado, possession of small amounts is not decriminalized, it is legal. Period. We will see how the regulatory schemes they craft in those states turn out, and we will see how the feds react. It is an ongoing process. But both states envision legal, taxed, and regulated sale.

Personally, I prefer a scheme where personal cultivation and non-commercial distribution is legal and untaxed. But I have no problem paying a tax on a commercial marijuana transaction, just as I do with any other commercial transaction.

This anti-tax stuff seems like its coming from the Ron Paul wing of the marijuana movement. It fucked up Prop 19 in California and did its best to sabotage I 502 in Washington. I'm glad it didn't work there.

As for the media lying to us about legalization, well, yeah, maybe it is not unfettered, absolute legalization, but it is legalization. You can put an asterisk beside it if you wish, but headlines like "Washington Legalizes Marijuana" and "Colorado Legalizes Marijuana" are game-changers in themselves. That shit is rocking the world right now.

We'll see how many more states flip in 2016.

Weed: Legalize and tax it [View all] samsingh Jan 2013 OP
plus a hundred loli phabay Jan 2013 #1
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #29
Weed: Legalize and tax it Flashmann Jan 2013 #2
..and the tax can be minimal samsingh Jan 2013 #41
Agree 100%. If we can do it with alcohol and tobacco we can certainly do it with weed. nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #3
the overall tax rates could be lower as well samsingh Jan 2013 #94
and industrial hemp, too! mike_c Jan 2013 #4
and industrial hemp, too! Flashmann Jan 2013 #8
i have two hemp shirts riverbendviewgal Jan 2013 #17
hemp has many uses samsingh Jan 2013 #40
I am very sorry to hear of your double tragedy. Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #51
i'm sorry for your loss samsingh Jan 2013 #60
a lack of a lobby probably regulated hemp to its current status samsingh Jan 2013 #95
+1 LWolf Jan 2013 #11
thanks LWolf samsingh Jan 2013 #100
its versatility and uses are far reaching samsingh Jan 2013 #14
and we're still learning about its uses samsingh Jan 2013 #22
the worst thing the Feds can do is right against the will of the States samsingh Jan 2013 #42
I don't smoke or otherwise ingest marijuana kentauros Jan 2013 #129
actually i don't smoke weed either samsingh Jan 2013 #133
I don't want to stop them either. kentauros Jan 2013 #134
yes samsingh Jan 2013 #135
the problem is that there is no science allowed in the USA, even though hemp in Canada is thriving farminator3000 Jan 2013 #137
I have a print version of Jack Herer's book. kentauros Jan 2013 #139
good ideas- i'd say work WITH birds- if they fill up on seeds, some will pass through... farminator3000 Jan 2013 #140
I know I've heard the name, but can't remember kentauros Jan 2013 #141
gourd! nice! farminator3000 Jan 2013 #143
some of the laws in the US are unfathomable samsingh Jan 2013 #145
i might have posted this for you before... farminator3000 Jan 2013 #147
wow samsingh Jan 2013 #148
COMMON SENSE. patrice Jan 2013 #151
Pot needs high powered, big monied lobbyists NightWatcher Jan 2013 #5
taxing it should attract government interest samsingh Jan 2013 #12
i think weed will result in some new anti-anxiety and depression pills that may be more effective samsingh Jan 2013 #144
Legalization and decriminalization are two different things Fumesucker Jan 2013 #6
decriminalization is the first step samsingh Jan 2013 #13
They skipped decrim in Washington and went straight to legalization. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #49
that's the ideal scenario - not sure if and when the other States would follow suit samsingh Jan 2013 #55
6. The rest of the world won't be captive to our draconian drug laws n/t RainDog Jan 2013 #7
right now, our drug policies are empowering cartels everywhere samsingh Jan 2013 #43
well that's just like your opinion, man. edhopper Jan 2013 #9
We did. Now you all need to catch up.. SomethingFishy Jan 2013 #10
my concern is that the Federal government doesn't do anything to screw up samsingh Jan 2013 #15
Amen from Colorado. mountain grammy Jan 2013 #16
indeed samsingh Jan 2013 #62
This Californian is jealous! OnionPatch Jan 2013 #25
the proposition is trending towards passing samsingh Jan 2013 #39
Legalize it. Period 1Greensix Jan 2013 #18
... Scuba Jan 2013 #20
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #146
Legalizing it makes absolute sense samsingh Jan 2013 #30
why would taxing pot result in people going to Jail? samsingh Jan 2013 #36
From your lips to Jah's ears. Nt Arctic Dave Jan 2013 #19
As long as the price comes down, so it is cheaper to sell it legally FrodosPet Jan 2013 #21
it would under this scenario samsingh Jan 2013 #23
Exactly!! Hemp products will soar! xoom Jan 2013 #24
they are also environmentally friendly samsingh Jan 2013 #33
Im not sure it can get any better than it is.its perfect. xoom Jan 2013 #56
I agree! In_The_Wind Jan 2013 #26
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #98
Noooo! Because the War on Drugs is the one "culture war" still worth fighting for! Romulox Jan 2013 #27
where's the sarcasm note? samsingh Jan 2013 #28
No sarcasm! Look at all the crappy Drug Warriors on this thread, for example: Romulox Jan 2013 #31
i know, i would expect a lot more people to comment samsingh Jan 2013 #32
The fix is already in place RedstDem Jan 2013 #77
i don't know that he's doubled down on the drug war yet samsingh Jan 2013 #81
rebels- refuse this tax bs green for victory Jan 2013 #34
without the tax, how will the government legalize it? samsingh Jan 2013 #35
the people will demand it, There's jury nullification too. green for victory Jan 2013 #37
they've been demanding it, and its still not legal samsingh Jan 2013 #38
more people are learning the truth green for victory Jan 2013 #44
i would like to clear the jails of pot offenders (who i don't think are offenders) samsingh Jan 2013 #45
This is the kind of ultra crap that helped sink Prop 19 in California. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #47
can the prop be proposed in 2014? samsingh Jan 2013 #63
Anyone can try to do an initiative at any time. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #64
2016 is a long time to wait samsingh Jan 2013 #66
The object is to actually win. Chances are better in a presidential election year. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #68
agreed samsingh Jan 2013 #69
Ah tama Jan 2013 #53
Other scientists have filed other patents on cannabinoids. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #65
competition will be helpful samsingh Jan 2013 #127
criminalizing weed has set humanity back by decades or more samsingh Jan 2013 #67
very true samsingh Jan 2013 #96
I second this notion RedstDem Jan 2013 #78
i think its motion! samsingh Jan 2013 #97
Fuck that. There's no reason to tax it beyond sales tax. cthulu2016 Jan 2013 #46
There is a reason to tax it beyond sales tax. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #48
Good point samsingh Jan 2013 #61
Kicked and recommended for common sense and logic. Uncle Joe Jan 2013 #50
thanks Uncle Joe samsingh Jan 2013 #54
Absolutely! trixie Jan 2013 #52
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #86
hell yes! why the hell not? cool infographic from another thread here farminator3000 Jan 2013 #57
interesting momentum may be building samsingh Jan 2013 #59
K&R Warren DeMontague Jan 2013 #58
Been saying that since 1984 kydo Jan 2013 #70
people are starting to listen samsingh Jan 2013 #71
I've been hearing that too since 1985 kydo Jan 2013 #72
i don't think any States have gone as far before this year samsingh Jan 2013 #75
more stuff farminator3000 Jan 2013 #73
encouraging samsingh Jan 2013 #74
there is a lot of literature supporting further investigation into the benefits of weed, hemp etc samsingh Jan 2013 #150
Why? Riftaxe Jan 2013 #76
you pretend its the pot, i'll pretend its the cocaine RedstDem Jan 2013 #79
between both of us Riftaxe Jan 2013 #80
who's lying about pot? samsingh Jan 2013 #83
Riftaxe. Occulus Jan 2013 #88
i see samsingh Jan 2013 #89
Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #91
why are you becoming so intense. We're having a discussion where opinions are being shared? samsingh Jan 2013 #99
Hmm because i was accused of lying Riftaxe Jan 2013 #101
okay samsingh Jan 2013 #102
Oh well, for general info Riftaxe Jan 2013 #104
Nope. Occulus Jan 2013 #106
Easy, those claiming it is medicinal Riftaxe Jan 2013 #90
the war on drugs is causing the civil war in Mexico samsingh Jan 2013 #84
what's wrong with what's done with alcohol? samsingh Jan 2013 #82
HIV patients have told me that the synthetic pill does not work the same way Occulus Jan 2013 #85
i wouldn't expect the synthetic version to work or work as well samsingh Jan 2013 #87
Are you in favor of criminalizing alcohol use / possession / manufacture? tabasco Jan 2013 #107
it's prohibition of pot that has wreaked misery on mexico. uncle ray Jan 2013 #111
i would be surprised to find that weed comes from out of state samsingh Jan 2013 #114
There is one in every crowd.. Oldenuff Jan 2013 #154
No! We must continue to ruin lives and give the police millions of easy busts! tabasco Jan 2013 #92
again, where's the sarcasm sign? samsingh Jan 2013 #93
Hopefully, tabasco Jan 2013 #105
ha ha samsingh Jan 2013 #109
I visited gungeon discussion (by mistake) tama Jan 2013 #110
i do that as well. it's very trying samsingh Jan 2013 #116
um. from my monsanto thread...YEESH! please, for humanity's sake, NO FRANKEN WEED!!! farminator3000 Jan 2013 #103
Good point samsingh Jan 2013 #113
legalization of hemp/cannabis/marijuana threatens profits in many industries! wildbilln864 Jan 2013 #108
true - but it will generate profits in others samsingh Jan 2013 #119
yes eventually. wildbilln864 Jan 2013 #120
it would become multi-billions very quickly samsingh Jan 2013 #124
and create jobs galore! nt wildbilln864 Jan 2013 #125
there is no reason to hesitate here samsingh Jan 2013 #128
agreed! nt wildbilln864 Jan 2013 #131
At this point, I wouldn't even tax it. krispos42 Jan 2013 #112
agreed samsingh Jan 2013 #130
kick! wildbilln864 Jan 2013 #115
I sure get tired of the "tax and regulate" argument. Oldenuff Jan 2013 #117
do you prefer that weed remains illegal? samsingh Jan 2013 #118
it's called "acknowledging reality". uncle ray Jan 2013 #123
that seems to be a good place to start samsingh Jan 2013 #126
well, looky here! Jack Herer's Emperor Wears No Clothes for free! farminator3000 Jan 2013 #121
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #122
Kick. Warren DeMontague Jan 2013 #132
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #153
Amen. ellisonz Jan 2013 #136
thanks samsingh Jan 2013 #149
The only issue with #1 is: Blue_Tires Jan 2013 #138
they are the problem samsingh Jan 2013 #142
its even worse than you think farminator3000 Jan 2013 #152
that's scary and really makes me angry at the unfairness of it all samsingh Jan 2013 #155
classification of MJ as schedule 1 drug is untenable- scientific paper- also THC suppositories! farminator3000 Jan 2013 #156
thanks for this detail samsingh Jan 2013 #157
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