Good news, California

[Matt_Whyte]

Good news, California. This was posted on Reddit. Google Tom Ammiano for more details and a source.


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.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	I thank you for finding and posting this article, it is a good addition to the drug news forum.
	Good Info to be spread!

[Pickpoke]

wow $50 an ounce that would be awesome, you know it'd be some dank bud too!

[chillinwill]

See Legalize It: Ammiano to Introduce Legislation Monday to Allow Pot -- and Tax It

[Greenport]

California's in a wonderful situation. They are still part of America but if the government were to ever step in and say "you can't write a law to undermine our laws", they're big enough to say "yeah well eff you". And when other states find that they agree with California's methods, they follow suit.

This makes California one of the most important states in issuing change in America. It's filled to the brim with young people who all want things to be different, better, than they are today.

If this passes, there is going to be a LOT of pressure put on the federal government to change with the rest of its country.

[yosmokinman]

SWIM thinks that $50 is the TAX on an oz, not the price...

[Pickpoke]

yeah that would make more sense lol, but one could only hope

[Probing Tranquility]

This makes Swim want to move to california...

[snapper]

SWIM woundn't hold SWIM's breath. Nice legislation but unlikely to pass. However, SWIM would love to see such a thing occur since it would create a great precedent for other states.

[AntiAimer]

Originally Posted by Pickpoke

wow $50 an ounce that would be awesome, you know it'd be some dank bud too!

Pretty sure your reading it wrong, that's the $50 an ounce TAX. A sales tax.

[Probing Tranquility]

Swim is wondering if weed became as legal as alcohol, if there would be surgeon generals warnings on it, or if it would have an estimated thc content.

[Ilsa]

^^more than likely yes...and as swisnapper said, it isn't likely to pass. it IS however, encouraging to see a state advocating so overtly

[beentheredonethatagain]

Here is the problem, as in medical marijuana which is easy and legal, the states cannot pass laws that would be in direct violation of federal laws.

the state can pass a law but the federal government will still have the power to arrest and press charges on the folks.

[Probing Tranquility]

Originally Posted by ilsa

^^more than likely yes...and as swisnapper said, it isn't likely to pass. it IS however, encouraging to see a state advocating so overtly

Swim figured it wouldn't pass right away, but he is happy to see a step in the right direction.

[Herbal Healer 019]

"establishing a fee on the sale of Marijuana at a rate of $50 per ounce."

The 50 dollar fee is refering to dealers who sell marijuana on the street will be charged a fee of 50 dollars per ounce.

[Ilsa]

Originally Posted by beentheredonethatagain

Here is the problem, as in medical marijuana which is easy and legal, the states cannot pass laws that would be in direct violation of federal laws.

the state can pass a law but the federal government will still have the power to arrest and press charges on the folks.

good point beenthere, i didn't think about that. so they can only decriminalize, but not allow mass production/sale? that would make sense...i don't think society as a whole will accept total legalization for some time. living in the southeast, we don't catch much of a break for nything but moonshine

[zera]

Originally Posted by Greenport

California's in a wonderful situation. They are still part of America but if the government were to ever step in and say "you can't write a law to undermine our laws", they're big enough to say "yeah well eff you". And when other states find that they agree with California's methods, they follow suit.

This theory has been tested with fairly poor results between 1860-1865

[helikophis]

Originally Posted by zera

This theory has been tested with fairly poor results between 1860-1865

It's a very different world than it was in 1860. Could there have been a black President or a female VP in 1860?

Of course, cannabis was legal back then.

Reputation Comments on this post:

good counterpoint

[bcubed]

Originally Posted by helikophis

It's a very different world than it was in 1860. Could there have been a black President or a female VP in 1860?

Of course, cannabis was legal back then.

Yes, with the Obama administration, the AG has announced that the feds won't intervene in the States' Right to allow med MJ.

Naturally, there's a fair amount of irony, having a left-leaning, minority president arguing for states' rights, but I suppose that's what was meant by the phrase "politics makes strange bedfellows."

[zera]

Okay, then what happens in the future when Republicans take back power. Do you think they might seize the records of the marijuana dispensaries and throw people in jail for buying pot ten years ago.

Not enforcing laws against something are very different then not having them. The government is prohibited from passing ex post facto laws by the Constitution, meaning that during the period something is legal you can do it freely without any fear of repercussions.

But an unenforced law means that you can always be prosecuted at some point in the future.

[Ilsa]

true, are there historical examples of this? not trying to sound like an ass, it's a genuine question. it's a good point; more context would be helpful. thanks

[nuffsaid420]

This has been a hot topic in the Bay Area for some time now. Many peoples conversations tend to go back and forth on how much taxing cannabis would actually help everyone or hurt others. This is the quickest and most available income the state of California has right now, it might fix some problems.

[Niteflights]

I think if it happens Malboro, Camel Walmart and uncle sam will have huge plantations making small competition by mom&pops almost impossible.

Sort of like moonshine was profitable during the prohibition, made Kennedys, Jack Daniels rich but now who can afford to compete with Coors, Absolut or Paps Blue Ribbon?

There are two sides to this. I do think it would be great for California. Would become the new Amsterdam. But even then could be a lot of negatives. Amsterdam got pretty dodgy.

I wonder how this would affect it's medical use. Bigpharma will not like it. Would eliminate an awful lot of prescriptions. That is the real issue.

Pay not attention to the man behind the curtain.