Pubdate: Sat, 26 Sep 2015
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2015 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93

POT PROPOSAL MIGHT HAVE A TAX LOOPHOLE

A New Wrinkle Has Emerged in a Would-Be Cartel's Effort to Legalize 
and Grow Marijuana in Ohio, Pointing Out Again Just How Bad an Idea 
It Would Be to Inscribe Its Self-Enriching Plan in the Ohio Constitution.

The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants says it has found a 
big tax loophole in the language of State Issue 3, a proposed 
constitutional amendment by ResponsibleOhio. This gap, they say, 
would shield the wealthy investors and retail marijuana shop owners 
from having to pay state income tax.

The sticking point is over a single word, the proposed amendment says 
businesses would pay "all other local taxes, assessments, fees and 
charges as apply to businesses in general."

The accountants - who, after all, are the experts who should know 
these things - say that local does not mean state, thus eliminating 
the need to pay state taxes. The pot-pushers insist the accountants 
got it wrong. The language says the opposite, that they "must pay all 
taxes that other businesses are required to pay."

This is an important issue for clarification, because one of 
ResponsibleOhio's selling points is that legalizing pot would pump 
mega-millions into government coffers.

Invariably, mistakes or oversights are made in legislation, but they 
can be remedied by quick fixes in the General Assembly. But when a 
policy is written into the Ohio Constitution, fixing flaws requires 
another statewide vote, a difficult and tedious process. This is a 
top reason why Ohio voters should vote no on Issue 3.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom