[snappyfingers]

(02-23) 17:50 PST SACRAMENTO -- California would become the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use under a bill introduced Monday by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco.The proposal would regulate marijuana like alcohol, with people over 21 years old allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess cannabis - all of which is barred by federal law.

Ammiano, a Democrat in his third month as a state lawmaker, said taxes and other fees associated with regulation could put more than a billion dollars a year into state coffers at a time when revenues continue to decline.

He said he thinks the federal government could soften its stance on marijuana under the Obama administration.

"We could in fact have the political will to do something, and certainly in the meantime this is a public policy call and I think it's worth the discussion," Ammiano said. "I think the outcome would be very healthy for California and California's economy."


Here's the link from the San Fran Chronic...er, Chronicle

[hiloshark]

If this gay marriage passed initially i dont see how legalizing marijuana wouldnt.

BUT i just dont see it happening right now

[PineysConfections]

I am watching this on the morning news right now. Given the current state of California's economy, I wonder how anyone could not vote for this bill. I suspect that there will be those who vigorously campaign against such a bill; however, this simply means that as we worked hard to get voters registered and out to vote for Obama, it will become clear that we again will need to get out there and work hard. There are a lot of reasons why the Prop Hate debacle occurred, but I suspect the Mormon and Catholic Churches will not get quite so involved this time.

This state intelligently voted for MMJ and to take it a step further and may finally give access to those in areas where MMJ is still not accepted.

I don't know how legalizing all MJ would affect currently operating co-ops and dispensaries. I seriously doubt that everyone would close down because all of a sudden Costco started offering MJ in their produce department - although, wouldn't that be something. Just walk into Costco to pick up your TP, paper towels, bottled water and MJ. Given the size/quantity of what you purchase at Costco, would it be in bales?

As it stands, the owners of co-ops/dispensaries currently pay taxes, provide employment and health insurance for many people and provide compassionate relief. These are what you would call "upstanding members of the community". And, in all honesty, one of the things I love about visiting certain co-ops is the familial atmosphere. Many of these people I have come to know as not just shop keepers, but friends and almost family. When I walk into a shop and see people smiling, joking around, a comfy couch, maybe a dog in the corner - this is not a bad place, this is a place that is welcoming, inviting and safe. I see how the people on WT unite together when someone is having a rough time or a beloved MMJ pioneer is either ending his/her fight with a disease or has issues with federal law enforcement. So, as far as the currently existing MMJ shops being affected, there may be a small impact, but I believe legalizing MJ for all will be a good thing.

And, if this reasoning simply does not work, let's just keep chanting $14 billion over and over. That should wake them up and I guarantee you, when they go behind that curtain to vote, it will be their pocketbook which motivates them to vote for such a bill.

[cannadyke]

article in today's LA times:

Taxing pot could become a political toking point

An Assemblyman from San Francisco argues that it's time to tax and regulate the state's biggest cash crop in the same manner as alcohol. Opponents say it would create new costs for society.

By Eric Bailey

February 24, 2009

Reporting from Sacramento -- Could Cannabis sativa be a salvation for California's fiscal misfortunes? Can the state get a better budget grip by taxing what some folks toke?

An assemblyman from San Francisco announced legislation Monday to do just that: make California the first state in the nation to tax and regulate recreational marijuana in the same manner as alcohol.

Buoyed by the widely held belief that cannabis is California's biggest cash crop, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano contends it is time to reap some state revenue from that harvest while putting a damper on drug use by teens, cutting police costs and even helping Mother Nature.

"I know the jokes are going to be coming, but this is not a frivolous issue," said Ammiano, a Democrat elected in November after more than a dozen years as a San Francisco supervisor. "California always takes the lead -- on gay marriage, the sanctuary movement, medical marijuana."

Anti-drug groups are anything but amused by the idea of California collecting a windfall from the leafy herb that remains illegal under federal law.

"This would open another door in Pandora's box," said Calvina Fay, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs. "Legalizing drugs like this would create a whole new set of costs for society."

Ammiano's measure, AB 390, would essentially replicate the regulatory structure used for beer, wine and hard liquor, with taxed sales barred to anyone under 21.

He said it would actually boost public safety, keeping law enforcement focused on more serious crimes while keeping marijuana away from teenagers who can readily purchase black-market pot from peers.

The natural world would benefit, too, from the uprooting of environmentally destructive backcountry pot plantations that denude fragile ecosystems, Ammiano said.

But the biggest boon might be to the bottom line. By some estimates, California's pot crop is a $14-billion industry, putting it above vegetables ($5.7 billion) and grapes ($2.6 billion). If so, that could mean upward of $1 billion in tax revenue for the state each year.

"Having just closed a $42-billion budget deficit, generating new revenue is crucial to the state's long-term fiscal health," said Betty Yee, the state Board of Equalization chairwoman who appeared with Ammiano at a San Francisco news conference.

Also in support of opening debate on the issue are San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey and retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray, a longtime legalization proponent.

"I'm a martini guy myself," Ammiano said. "But I think it's time for California to . . . look at this in a truly deliberative fashion."

He sees the possibility of an eventual truce in the marijuana wars with Barack Obama now in the White House.

A White House spokesman declined to discuss Ammiano's legislation, instead pointing to a transition website that says the president "is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."

Several cities in California and around the nation have adopted laws making marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority, including Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Denver and Seattle.

Oakland went even further in 2004, requiring pot to be taxed if it is legalized.

But where Ammiano sees taxes, pot foes see trouble.

They say easier access means more problems with drug dependency among adults, heavier teen use and an increase in driving while high.

"If we think the drug cartels are going to tuck their tails between their legs and go home, I think we're badly mistaken," Fay said.

"They're going to heavily target our children."

eric.bailey@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,7534269.story

[HappaGuy]

Legalize It: Ammiano to Introduce Legislation Monday to Allow Pot -- and Tax It
By Joe Eskenazi in Breaking News, Government
Sunday, Feb. 22 2009 @ 5:00PM
UPDATE: Coverage of Ammiano's press conference here.

ammianoweed-little.jpg

The story SF Weekly broke on Friday is true: Assemblyman Tom Ammiano will announce legislation on Monday to legalize marijuana and earn perhaps $1 billion annually by taxing it.

Quintin Mecke, Ammiano's press secretary, confirmed to SF Weekly that the assemblyman's 10 a.m. Monday press conference regarding "new legislation related to the state's fiscal crisis" will broach the subject of reaping untold -- and much-needed -- wealth from the state's No. 1 cash crop.

Mecke said Ammiano's proposed bill "would remove all penalties in California law on cultivation, transportation, sale, purchase, possession, or use of marijuana, natural THC, or paraphernalia for persons over the age of 21."

The bill would additionally prohibit state and local law officials from enforcing federal marijuana laws. As for Step Two -- profit -- Ammiano's bill calls for "establishing a fee on the sale of marijuana at a rate of $50 per ounce." Mecke said that would bring in roughly $1 billion for the state, according to estimates made by marijuana advocacy organizations.

UPDATE: Coverage of Ammiano's press conference here.

Source: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/...to_introdu.php

I hope they exempt MMJ users from the $50/Z tax.

[AnyOtherIllness]

If they could get the price down to $2 an ounce, I wouldn't mind paying $52 for tax + cost.
Posted via Mobile Device

[HappaGuy]

Originally Posted by AnyOtherIllness

If they could get the price down to $2 an ounce, I wouldn't mind paying $52 for tax + cost.
Posted via Mobile Device

$2/Z full cost to consumer is not unreasonable if they legalized production so that mainstream capital came in to build plantations, factories. Economies of scale, genuine university-educated PhD in horticulture growers...I can think of a lot of legal herbs that are inherently more expensive to produce.

[BrattonBasher]

Originally Posted by HappaGuy

$2/Z full cost to consumer is not unreasonable if they legalized production so that mainstream capital came in to build plantations, factories. Economies of scale, genuine university-educated PhD in horticulture growers...I can think of a lot of legal herbs that are inherently more expensive to produce.

Sounds good to me, my friend! Have you read the bill? Lets hope it contains protections for small growers/breeders, and like you said earlier hopefully it provides tax relief for medical users.

[shecky7]

Has anyone got a link to the text of the bill? I have looked but only got a 1993 bill by the same number?

[shecky7]

Ok I found it. This is the only place you can easily go to the link to READ THE BILL.
Never ever sign your support to ANYTHING without knowing what you do first.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/...introduced.pdf

Where's the popcorn?

[shecky7]

Originally Posted by BrattonBasher

Sounds good to me, my friend! Have you read the bill? Lets hope it contains protections for small growers/breeders, and like you said earlier hopefully it provides tax relief for medical users.

Corporations are the only entity 'the government' can tax. Read the codes dude! Ha ha
I don't actually expect you to read Title 26 in it's complete awesomeness. Be well!

[Eazy]

It's high time we had a joint session to discuss this matter. Legalizing hemp and medical marijuana and marijuana will revitalize the economy world wide. I'll bring some joints of Super Cap and...Pre-98 Bubba. I'm ready to roll.

damn, now I got to read ANOTHER bill.

...free the seed.

[dasficktauf]

the price drop is one major thing to expect if full legalization happens.. and yes you'll see it in 7-11 and anywhere else they sell booz.

but what about the quality aspect. a friend and i spoke briefly on this, his point was, if it isn't mj enthusiasts growing this product. then quality will drop. government mj (atleast the kind they do their testing with) is what most of us would consider.. sub par.

while i understand his point. my counter, i felt, won out the arguement.

all these amazing growers. the greenest of the green thumbs.. will no longer have to have nutes shipped in unmarked boxes. will no longer have to hide their crops. and will have access to supplies at more realistic costs. imagine the vendors who grow these amazing kushes in an extra bedroom or an attic. moving that to a large greenhouse in the back yard. etc.. no more hiding the talents of these amazing botonists.

oh.. college botany classes specializing in mj? doesn't Berkley already offer this?

this i feel, will help keep quality levels up to par with what we've gotten used to.

[Igrowmyown]

Will Arnold Veto this if it passes?... Just spent 30 min surfing the net reading the S.F. gate and reading Arnolds Blog cant find his stance on this.

[Igrowmyown]

Originally Posted by shecky7

Corporations are the only entity 'the government' can tax. Read the codes dude! Ha ha
I don't actually expect you to read Title 26 in it's complete awesomeness. Be well!

page 35 of AB 390 (C) # 29 each person 21 or older can only cultivate max 10 plants at any given time... please read and tell me if im getting this wrong. Seems to me this will be the grey area people are going to eat the $100 fine for unlawful cultivation (very last on page 35) instead of paying the $5,000 license fee and $2,500 annually. somebody please explain this thanks.