primitives discuss tax on dope

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022637297

Oh my.

DonViejo (3,380 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 05:19 PM

Colorado considers huge legal weed tax

State lawmakers consider possibility of taxing recreational marijuana at a rate near 40 percent
 
Taxes on recreational marijuana legalized in Colorado could be so high that recreational users may continue to rely on illegal sales. As HuffPo reported Monday:
 
The House-Senate committee, which will introduce a bill this week drafted from the 58 recommendations that the pot task force issued last month with taxes being one of several issues the committee is considering, would ask voters to approve a 15 percent excise tax and a 15 percent special sales tax. Those rates plus existing local and state tax rates — for food and beverage sales in Denver, the the combined total tax rate is 8 percent — could mean a total tax rate 0f 38 percent on marijuana purchases in the Denver area.
 
Currently, medical marijuana is taxed like all food and beverage sales are and fluctuates from county to county, in Denver that rate is just 8 percent.
 
The proposed Colorado taxes are markedly higher than the taxes placed on recreational marijuana in the only other legalization state — Washington. At present, Washington state’s measure “Initiative 502” legalized small amounts of marijuana and marijuana products for people 21 and older adults and established an excise tax on those products of 25 percent.
 
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http://www.salon.com/2013/04/08/colorado_considers_huge_legal_weed_tax/

marmar (59,956 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 05:20 PM

1. The people have spoken, the politicians don't like it, so they pull this kind of sh*t.

Dreamer Tatum (6,947 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 05:36 PM

3. Wait, hang on.

Scores, if not hundreds, perhaps thousands of threads over the years about the revenue-positive promise of legal weed, and you're surprised they want to tax the living shit out of it?

REALLY?

THIS is why I always claimed that legalization will do NOTHING for drug violence - the cartels have an incentive to undercut the state's prices, and people (like yourself, evidently) will continue to buy on the black market to avoid paying the taxes they swore everyone would pay with big sloppy smiles on their faces.
 
"Legalize it for revenue" was always bullshit to me, and I am more convinced of that than ever.

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alcibiades_mystery (27,790 posts)    Mon Apr 8, 2013, 06:03 PM

10. Wasn't "You can tax it" one of the pro arguments?

Dreamer Tatum (6,947 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 06:05 PM

11. Until it was legalized, anyway.

geek tragedy (23,982 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 06:12 PM

13. For liberals, yes. For libertarians and pot lifestylists, notsomuch.

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lame54 (13,262 posts)    Mon Apr 8, 2013, 07:07 PM

22. So much for states rights

<<<not sure what "states' rights" have to do with this, but there you have it.

[GOBUCKS]

This sounds like another bonanza for the gangsters who run the injun reservation tobacco and gambling goldmines.

And all those injuns too drunk or too lazy to leave the reservation never see a dime of it.

[Chris_]

This sounds like another bonanza for the gangsters who run the injun reservation tobacco and gambling goldmines.

And all those injuns too drunk or too lazy to leave the reservation never see a dime of it.

Have you heard the injuns that run the reservation casinos are "disenrolling" tribal members to increase the per-capita payout to each member of the tribe?

These Indian casinos are worse than the mob.  They're doing payroll loans with 1500% APR.

[GOBUCKS]

Have you heard the injuns that run the reservation casinos are "disenrolling" tribal members to increase the per-capita payout to each member of the tribe?

These Indian casinos are worse than the mob.  They're doing payroll loans with 1500% APR.

The "tribes" are just criminal enterprises. They're sort of like a wrecked bus in New York, with scammers fighting to get on board.

You just need a long, greasy, gray ponytail, a string tie held together with a polished rock, and a big sleazy belt buckle.

Congratulations and welcome to the First Nation. Let me introduce you to Fauxcohontas.

[jukin]

I love it when a DUmmy plan comes together.

[DLR Pyro]

Come on DUmmies. Do your patriotic duty and pay your weed taxes.

[dutch508]

This is exactly what they were claiming would 'save' the country.

Dumb assets.

[Texacon]

I thought they wanted ammo taxed beyond reach. If its good enough for ammo it should be good enough for weed, right DUmmies?

KC

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

It's called The Laffer Curve and it's real even though you deny it.

Just because you Peter Pansies think you can think happy thoughts and fly doesn't mean natural law stops working.

[miskie]

Sorry DUmbos - only 1%ers can afford weed in this economy, so if you wanna play, you'll have to pay.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Warpy (68,070 posts)

30. The trick is to keep taxes low enough to put the black market out of business

If they keep black market prices attractive, they won't do anything to break up the gangs here or abroad and people will continue to be exposed to weed laced with some pretty godawful stuff because black marketeers generally don't care.
 
It makes absolutely no sense to legalize it and then tax it so that it's completely out of reach. That is simply not going to work and I'm surprised people don't realize that.

msongs (30,050 posts)

2. prostitute politicians doing what's needed to keep the illegal market booming despite legalization n

RainDog (23,899 posts)

29. They are going to have to find the point

at which taxation does not continue to fuel an underground market.

If taxation is too high, people will continue to purchase through other venues.

This is something economists have been looking at ever since the issue of legalization became a possibility.

See, this is what I'm on about.

If there was a thread about coporations taking jobs out of the US citing oppressed taxation and regulation schemes these idiots would be in full denial mode.


Don't EVER think Proglodytes are stupid. They aren't stupid; they're dishonest and hypocritical.

[FiddyBeowulf]

geek tragedy (23,982 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 06:12 PM

13. For liberals, yes. For libertarians and pot lifestylists, notsomuch.

If your life style is based around pot you do not have much of a life. 

[Texacon]

See, this is what I'm on about.

If there was a thread about coporations taking jobs out of the US citing oppressed taxation and regulation schemes these idiots would be in full denial mode.


Don't EVER think Proglodytes are stupid. They aren't stupid; they're dishonest and hypocritical.

Good point.

KC

[JohnnyReb]

Typical liberal tax the other poor stupid S.O.B.'s bad habits, not mine.

[Dori]

I think there should be a union for pot workers.  The growers, distributors and merchants should all demand high wages and benefits.

Where is Nads?  She needs to get right on this.

[DLR Pyro]

I think there should be a union for pot workers.  The growers, distributors and merchants should all demand high wages and benefits.

Where is Nads?  She needs to get right on this.

and demand the DUmmies refuse to smoke any pot not grown,processed, and distributed by union workers

[Carl]

and demand the DUmmies refuse to smoke any pot not grown,processed, and distributed by union workers

Not a chance.

bigtree (48,688 posts)
48. just let us grow our own

. . . always with the middle man and the govt. looking to cash in; in this case, just to cover for their restrictive laws.

They want to stone out of life and reality on everyone elses dime.
Useless freaks.

[GOBUCKS]

I'm amazed that none of them DUmmies has mentioned evading the pot tax at an injun reservation.

How much does nadin smuggle back when she visits her family in the shithole south of Texas?