Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Source: Valley Courier (CO)
Copyright: 2013 2010 News Media Corporation
Contact:  http://www.alamosanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5117
Author: Paul Christian

TAINTED MARIJUANA INCIDENT RAISES ISSUES

I am writing in regard to the two recent articles about tainted 
marijuana. This is further evidence that outlawing marijuana, or even 
not permitting legal sales when it is otherwise allowed by law, never 
has and never will prevent individuals from obtaining it. Given that, 
it seems that it would be a much better system to have some kind of 
regulation controlling it, thereby knowing where it comes from and 
what is in it, than having individuals obtain it from whatever street 
source they can find. If this particular individual had obtained his 
marijuana from a legal source, that source would be known and would 
therefore have an incentive to make sure their product was pure and 
unadulterated.

Additionally, the most recent issue of the Colorado Springs 
Independent (Oct. 9-15) states that in the third quarter of the 
fiscal year, El Paso County received $349,999 in sales tax on medical 
marijuana. The paper further states that so far this year El Paso 
County received $1,001,808 in retail and sales tax. I am sure Alamosa 
County (and/or City) wouldn't reach this number, but revenue from 
sales tax on recreational marijuana could be a significant 
contributor to the city and county coffers.

When the law legalizing marijuana goes into effect, the money from 
taxing the product can either stay in the Valley, or go to another 
locality which allows the legal sale of marijuana. Bars and liquor 
stores are allowed in the city and county while alcohol arguably does 
more harm than recreational marijuana ever could.

To all the citizens who signed the letter supporting the proposed RV 
park based on the revenue it is supposed to bring in, are you on the 
same side of the legal marijuana issue?

In regard to the marijuana sales tax issue on the ballot, while a tax 
similar to that on other goods would raise revenue for the city and 
county, an onerous tax which increases the price up to 30 percent 
above the actual cost will only insure that unauthorized providers 
remain, thereby not only losing any revenue for the city and county, 
but also continuing to needlessly endanger our citizens by putting 
them at risk of tainted and impure marijuana.

Paul Christian

Alamosa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom