Pubdate: Wed, 25 Feb 2009
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2009 The Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

CALIFORNIA MULLS CANNABIS TAX

SACRAMENTO, California: Could cannabis be a salvation for 
California's fiscal misfortunes?

A member of California's state assembly is introducing legislation to 
do just that: make California the first state to tax and regulate 
recreational marijuana.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano from San Francisco says it is time to reap 
some state revenue 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 Mr Ammiano, a Democrat elected to the assembly in 
November. "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.

Calvina Fay, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs, said: 
"Legalising drugs like this would create a whole new set of costs for society."

Mr Ammiano's measure essentially would replicate the regulatory 
structure used for alcohol, with taxed sales barred to anyone under 21.

He said it would allow police to focus on more serious crimes while 
keeping marijuana away from teenagers.

The environment would benefit, too, he said, by uprooting destructive 
pot plantations that denude fragile ecosystems.

By some estimates, California's pot crop is a $US14 billion ($22 
billion) industry. On that figure, the proposal could mean upward of 
$US1 billion in tax revenue each year.

After posting a $42 billion budget deficit, "generating new revenue 
is crucial to the state's long-term fiscal health", said Betty Yee, 
California's Board of Equalisation chairwoman, who supports Mr 
Ammiano's proposal.

Also in support of opening debate on the issue is the retired Orange 
County Superior Court judge James Gray, a longtime legalisation proponent.

"I'm a martini guy myself," Mr Ammiano said. "But I think it's time 
for California to look at this in a truly deliberative fashion."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake