Legal for all in California soon?

[Quietus]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99F5CG80&show_article=1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California tax officials say a state proposal to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol would generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue.
A State Board of Equalization report released Wednesday estimates marijuana retail sales would bring $990 million from a $50-per-ounce fee and $392 million in sales taxes.  The bill introduced by San Francisco Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano in February would allow adults to legally possess, grow and sell marijuana.  Ammiano has promoted the bill as a way to help bridge the state's $26.3 billion budget shortfall.  As the bill is written, the state could not begin collecting taxes under the bill until the federal government legalizes marijuana.

A spokesman says Ammiano plans to amend the bill to remove that provision.

With the new restrictive house rules breaking the long-standing tradition of open debate on summer appropriations and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce not wanting to touch HR 2835 with a 10 foot pole, that last sentence becomes critically important.

TBH, what they should do is repeal their participation in the uniform narcotic act.  At that point they would have a strong state's right argument, as long as the then agricultural product doesn't cross state borders in either direction.

[Derek Rosenzweig]

I think it could happen in Cali... not sure when, but with a hard figure of $1.4 BILLION, that's hard to ignore when their deficit is over $20 billion. PA's is only about $3 billion, and quick estimates show that we could rake in anywhere from $340,000/year - $130,000,000/year in taxes for medical marijuana... it all depends on the number of patients, the price of the medicine, and the amount smoked per year. The lower figure is the lowest of all parameters; the higher is the highest. What we need is a report similar to the one you posted the article about, that does better research to get more accurate numbers.

[jackcat]

There should really be no tax other then the normal sales tax on medical marijuana if the states now want to elevate the once maligned "demon weed" to a taxable product.  Tax the recreational users who are the greater in number.  Give sick and hurting people a break. 

[Quietus]

There should really be no tax other then the normal sales tax on medical marijuana if the states now want to elevate the once maligned "demon weed" to a taxable product.  Tax the recreational users who are the greater in number.  Give sick and hurting people a break. 

It would be considered a vice really, which governments love to tax the hell out of.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_390_bill_20090401_status.html

Well I was interested in the article, but am now unsure as to the status of the bill.  Looks like Tom withdrew his request for a hearing?  Not much about it on his website, other than a youtube interview.  Watched the interview, and there is something really creepy about the guy.  Reminded me of Joan Rivers, as though he's had one too many plastic surgeries.