Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2014 Mike Valinor
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Mike Valinor

HIGH POT PRICES INFLATE STATE REVENUE

By keeping the state marijuana grow canopy minuscule, the Washington
Liquor Control Board can keep marijuana prices high, which will help
to maximize the total tax the state will collect from sales. The
liquor control board has allocated 2 million square feet of marijuana
grow canopy for the entire state, which is equal to 46 acres. If the
state only allowed 46 acres statewide to grow apples on, we would be
paying more than $1,000 for an apple.

The marijuana excise taxes collected by the state will increase as the
price per gram for marijuana increases. The amount of taxes the state
will collect at $20 a gram will be twice the taxes that the state
would collect if the same gram of marijuana was sold for $10.

The liquor control board reduced the number of pot-growing licenses
from three to one and how much each individual supplier can grow so
they don't go over the total of 2 million square feet or 46 acres.
That is a minuscule grow canopy for marijuana when compared to the
estimated 168,000 acres of farmland used in Washington to grow apples.

The liquor control board is exploiting Initiative 502 to create high
marijuana prices that will generate the greatest amount of taxes
collected for each gram of marijuana sold.

Mike Valinor

Lynnwood 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D