Pubdate: Wed, 22 Aug 2012
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Bryce Crawford

SHOT AT THE POT

Last Thursday, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy released a study 
saying the state could see $60 million-plus in combined savings and 
revenue if Amendment 64, the effort to decriminalize marijuana, is 
passed by voters in November. That amount could balloon to $100 
million within five years of the law's implementation, says study 
author Christopher Stiffler.

The numbers came under immediate criticism from No on 64, the group 
opposing the ballot measure: "This report triples the estimate from 
the state's unbiased, non-partisan Office of Legislative Council in 
the Blue Book," campaign director Roger Sherman told Denver's 
Westword, citing a report that shows the amendment could increase 
revenue anywhere between $4 million and $22 million.

But it's all in what you're counting, says Stiffler in an e-mail to 
the Independent.

"The reason why our report differs from the Blue Book analysis is 
that I considered additional factors than those considered by 
Legislative Council staff," he writes. "My analysis calculates state 
sales tax, local sales tax, excise tax, and savings to law 
enforcement. ... Our report estimates $8.7 million in state sales tax revenue."

The CCLP also says the amendment could create more than 350 jobs, 
mostly in the construction industry, and generate $24 million 
annually for the state's Building Excellent Schools Today competitive 
grant program.

Keef crumbs

* The Cannabis Alliance for Regulation and Education is holding a 
so-called money bomb "to fund litigation to uphold the privacy of the 
confidential medical marijuana patient registry." The group, 
affiliated with the Patient and Caregiver Rights Litigation Project 
and led by Kathleen Chippi, unsuccessfully tried to appeal the firing 
of an MMJ patient to the Colorado Supreme Court. Contact Chippi at 
888/328-4367 if you're interested in donating.

* Facebook reversed course and began accepting advertising promoting 
pro-marijuana political campaigns, the Huffington Post reported last week.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom