Pubdate: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 Source: Sacramento Bee (CA) Copyright: 2016 The Sacramento Bee Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/0n4cG7L1 Website: http://www.sacbee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376 Author: Todd Kerrin WRONG PLACE FOR THIS SALES TAX The legalization of marijuana, even for strictly medicinal purposes, leads to consequences that create serious concerns regarding public safety and environmental damage. There's a strong case to be made for taxation of the product for the purpose of offsetting the costs ultimately borne by society. But proposing a sales tax that places the revenue into the state's general fund is foolish. Additional taxes levied against citizens of the state, especially those who are purchasing a product for expressly medical purposes, should be wholly set aside to target the negative effects from marijuana cultivation. The general fund is frequently raided by state government that rejects the fiscally sane notion of spending less than it collects. Don't replenish these poorly managed coffers. Todd Kerrin, Sacramento - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom