Pubdate: Wed, 13 Nov 2013
Source: Day, The (New London,CT)
Copyright: 2013 The Day Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Author: Jay Lustgarten

CONN. CAN LEARN FROM COLORADO POT-TAX VOTE

"Measures to legalize marijuana win approval," (Nov. 7), tells us, 
"In Colorado, voters backed a heavy tax on recreational marijuana 
that was made legal here last year," giving a whole new meaning to 
the term "Rocky Mountain High."

Similar to same-sex marriage, these are issues that have been held 
back too long, whose time has come, with marijuana legalization a 
plausible way for state governments to close budget gaps, capturing 
some of the revenue that would otherwise flow underground to the 
shadow economy. The 21st Amendment abandoned total prohibition of 
alcohol in 1933 when the government finally chose to tax questionable 
habits rather than forbid them.

Recreational or medicinal, bringing marijuana out from the shadows is 
past due, recognizing that legislating undesirable habits is an 
inferior way to confront a potential positive in terms of control and 
revenue generation.

Jay Lustgarten Stonington
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