A discussion on the tax cannabis 2010 bill. I am engaged in this discussion on another site, and copied and pasted my original post here to get other viewpoints. So if some sentences seem out of the blue or don't make sense, that's why. Here are some of my thoughts on the bill. Someone had brought up the point that anyone who against the bill is just in it for the $$$..... I myself have some doubts and questions as to how the bill was written. While I have to agree, if you are against the bill solely because of a potential loss of revenue, then you are just slime. People shouldn't have to go though what the family in the video did, over a measly plant. Also in respect to monetary compensation, in this area of business, if your business plan is not fluid enough to allow for repositioning and maneuvering in a dynamic and ever changing market, you need to get out while you're ahead. People are going to have to change their business model in order to survive. It happens in a capitalistic society. Those who don't have the business sense or intuition to change with the market will die off. I don't know if you have read the bill, I have a few times just to make sure my thought process was correct and logical, and to know I will be making an informed decision in Nov. if I choose to vote. That said, I am still on the fence about the bill. There are benefits and relief in the bill, that I can't argue. Pro's of the bill - 1) Anyone can have an oz. in their possession without fear of arrest or even a ticket. As it is now, non mmj smokers will get a ticket and $100 fine. 2) Any person can grow in their residence, a 5x5 plot. Plant count is irrelevant. Any amount you can harvest from the plot, is allowed to be stored on the premises of the plot. 3) It allows county/ local authorities to regulate the trade. Cities and counties can determine how many business' are allowed to sell, and issue zoning and licensing permits. 4) It allows for research. Awesome! 5) The biggest pro to the bill imo - It promotes an active hemp industry. This is huge. This will mean a lot of jobs and money. 6) The bill does allow for amendments by statewide vote. 7) I read that the laws would be retro active, and anyone currently in jail for mj that met this bills requirements would be released. I can not find that language in the currently version of the bill however. Now, here are some negatives or at least questionable points - 1) The bill states it does not override Prop215. Great. BUT, Prop215 has no plant guidelines in it. The new bill has a 5x5 plot limit. Even though the bill states it does not change anything with Prop215, it also says "Notwithstanding any other statute or current law" (Notwithstanding - in spite of. regardless of) therefore, does this mean the new bill will limit mmj patients to a 5x5 plot? It certainly seems like an argument could be made to that effect since Prop 215 does not discuss plant limits or quantity of medicine. This is my primary concern with the bill. 2) It does not allow anyone under 21 to smoke. That is wrong imo. If you are 18, you can buy cigs, go to war etc. If someone is old enough to fight for our country, they should be allowed to smoke as well. 2) If you are caught providing mj to a person under 21, this law would make it a felony. It is currently a misdemeanor. 3) If you go over the 5x5 plot size, felony. This isn't so bad for the casual smoker. But heavy smokers like me can burn through a 5x5 area of OG Kush (small small yields) before the next crop finishes. This will effect outdoor growers far more than indoor. If you can only grow a 5x5' plant outdoors once a year, that isn't going to last even the casual smoker until the next years harvest. 4) It requires a license and zoning permits similar to alcohol. Now, the actual cost of an alcohol license in my area is about $15-25K, and up to $50K USD, depending on location. I know a lot of bar owners and managers, and all have told me it took $100-$150K to get the license, after greasing the right hands. This seems to tip the law in favor of corporate America, not the individual smoker. 5) Considering Richard Lee's current monopoly in Oakland with cannabis clubs (he owns 3 of 4 that are allowed to operate in the city) it seems to solidify that monopoly. IMO, RL is a douche and is out solely for $$$$, not for patients or smokers or even the plant. But, that is a personal opinion, and not necessarily a wise argument to pursue, so I won't. But it's worth mentioning. 6) You can't purchase more than oz. It has to be purchased through a retailer. Your buddy with the 5x5' plot can't sell it to you. 7) There is supposed to be a $50 per oz tax. That means, if selling retail it's $800 per Lb. in tax. If prices drop down to say, $2400/lb for kush, then that is a 25% tax rate. That is ridiculous. Of course the market will have to stabilize, but that is my prediction. I don't think it's drop down to $1000/lb like the people who are screaming the sky is falling, but I do think it will drop about 40% or so. Again, my opinion, and not the best argument to make, so I will not pursue it. It is extremely difficult to speculate on a non regulated market. Some other things to think about.... Jack Herer and Dennis Peroin both disagreed with this bill. Wouldn't decriminalizing cannabis provide all the benefits (aside from the tax revenue), without the possible negative implications associated with this bill? And, if decriminalized, local city/county authorities could still regulate commercial sales with zoning permits, licensing, and sales taxes. So that's the debate out here. Like I said, I am still on the fence. I think the bill is not the best for us, but at this point, it's the only shot we've got. Now before anyone bashes me for being on the fence and not 100% in support of the bill, please understand, I could care less about money. I want people incarcerated for mj to be released. I want freedom for all who choose to use mj to be able to do so without fear of LEO. I think legalization and taxation, if done properly would be beneficial to the people of California and the economy. I don't want to hear or see anyone getting their house invaded and pets or people killed over mj. I fully support legalization, I'm just not sure this is the correct way to go about it. I hope that makes sense. So, what are your thoughts on the bill? (especially Californians!) Let's discuss this.... A link to the bill... http://www.taxcannabis.org/index.php/pages/initiative/
I'm a supporter of the initiative. As with all things there is a possibility that there are going to be problems with the initial legislation. We won't know how this can work until we have a chance to test it out. Prohibition has been in place a long time, our modern economy has no idea what will happen once the plant is legalized. I support the TaxCannabis2010 initiative. Greedy people can get bent all they want. The plant should be legalized and if your going to profit from it you should be paying some form of taxes.
One more negative (which was brought up on an earlier thread about this bill) is that a lot of unemployed stoners will move into the state putting an even greater strain on the already-stretched-to-the-limit economy of California. If MJ is going to be legalized, it needs to be done on a federal level (IMHO). Larger growers have to be licensed by the local government to grow anything larger that the 5x5 plot (like what they are tyring to do in Oakland), and the retailers must buy from a licensed grower. Will this get the cartels from foreign countries to stop growing on public lands? Probably not. "3) It allows county/ local authorities to regulate the trade. Cities and counties can determine how many business' are allowed to sell, and issue zoning and licensing permits." <---Whoever gives the largest "campaign contributions" will determine how many businesses are allowed to sell, like you mentioned about the number of dispensaries in Oakland. "6) You can't purchase more than oz. It has to be purchased through a retailer. Your buddy with the 5x5' plot can't sell it to you." <---Completely unenforceable. Perhaps what we need to discuss is, how do WE become the large supplier for the new weed shops, should this bill pass? otleaf-3:
bullshit!! I have said it before and it is becomeing true. This is big money and I knew they would try to legalize it with taxes for the states and big dollars for corporate income. They are cutting out the little guys all together. 5 x 5 plot 25 square feet. Thats a joke. I am growing a 50 5 x 10 and burn thrue that before the next grow is harvested and thats indoors. Shit if you are growing outdoors thats a joke. You will have smoke once in a while and end up buying it at high prices when you run out. Further profits for the big guys. I understand this would make us all non felons but at the same time I would hate for one state to set a presidance for the rest to follow. Sells only to 21 year olds........get real they are relateing it to alcohol laws. :beerchug-2: Teamster6
