Pubdate: Thu, 30 Apr 2015
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2015 Star Advertiser
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154
Author: Michelle Kerr

MEDICAL POT FEES ARE ALL ABOUT GREED

Legislators responsible for amendments to House Bill 321, the medical 
marijuana bill, should be ashamed. The $20,000 application and 
$30,000 renewal fee for dispensaries was the give-away. It was always 
about the money.

It started out well-intentioned - to get medical marijuana to those 
who need it. I have personal experience with a sister who relies on 
medical marijuana for her multiple-organ cancer to relieve pain, 
nausea, appetite and sleep issues.

Our one-party-dominated state presents no viable opposition to 
counter the Democrats' thirst for taxation and over-regulation. Greed 
has taken a good and necessary cause and turned it into a money maker 
for the state. Lawmakers now propose general excise tax rates and 
surcharges of 25 percent. This is outrageous and confiscatory on sick 
people. There should be no GET or surcharges on medical marijuana.

Michelle "Mikie" Kerr Waikoloa, Hawaii island
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom