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Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts
3/27/09|StoptheDrugWar.org| from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #578

And then there were two. Last month, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) introduced the first marijuana legalization bill in state history. Now, on the other side of the country, Massachusetts lawmakers are joining in the action.

Fulfilling a citizen petition, Massachusetts Rep. Ellen Story (D-Amherst) has filed House Bill 2929 and Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Northampton) has filed a companion measure, Senate Bill 1801, in the upper chamber. The citizen seeking the bills is Richard Evans, a former board member of StoptheDrugWar.org (DRCNet -- publisher of this newsletter) and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The proposals would "tax and regulate" the state's marijuana industry, with the tax assessed varying according to the potency of the pot. Class C schwag would be taxed at $150 an ounce, Class B smoke would be taxed at $200, and Class A kind bud would fetch $250 an ounce for the state. The taxes could raise nearly $100 million in revenue for the cash-strapped Bay State.

But the proposals also allow for tax-free personal home grows and "gratuitous distribution" to other adults. All commercial grows, importation, processing, and sales would be licensed by a new bureaucratic entity, the Cannabis Control Authority.

"Decades of whispered grumblings about the wisdom and efficacy of prohibition is rapidly giving way to a serious -- really serious public discussion about how to replace it," said Evans, who assisted in drafting the landmark legislation. "Those who consider themselves leaders in government and the media have the obligation to either show how prohibition can be made to work, or join in the exploration of alternatives."

Last November, Massachusetts voters approved marijuana decriminalization with 65% of the vote. Now, their legislators have the opportunity to see if they can advance to the Bay State vanguard by voting for outright legalization. From the Pacific to the Atlantic, let the pincer movement begin.

Buzzby

Those tax levels are absurd! They would result in three things: a continued black market, no legitimate marijuana industry, and a huge up-tick in the sale of home growing supplies.

And there's the source of weed for the black market. Why spend $300 for an ounce of weed at the State Store when your neighbor who grows his own will gladly sell it to you for $150. After all, it only cost him $30 to grow it. How would law enforcement ever know?

You have to actually sell something to realize the tax benefits. Taxing at those levels would strangle any legitimate market. Taxing something at 1,000% of its production cost is unrealistic.

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GrimmReefer

Honestly there talking about legalizing it and we are already complaining??? Its a start bud, and its all due to the recession so of coarse they are looking to make money off it to pay off the debt. And if you actually read the article before you complain I believe it states you can grow it for yourself or get it from your neighbor.

chow592

This is a very fair bill for everyone involved. All the New England states should should put together similar bills as well since they have already decriminalized or have current bills to do so. Same with California and the North West..

Nico420

I'm pretty sure Buzzby knows what hes talking about bud. His point was that the high tax wouldn't make money because the black market would continue and people wouldn't be buying weed for double the price.

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AndyPanda

I agree with the points you are making but look at it this way. We will get it legalized somewhere in this country. I'd rather have a sucky legalization bill than none at all. And if we have to appeal to the greed of the politicians in regards to all that tax money then that may have to be the price we may have to pay initially.

LowRider

they can lower the taxs at will. Its in the bill. but i do agree with you its high to start out that much. you would think it would be lower then they would raise little by little.

I will say this, i like the grading scale they put in place (not the the higher price)

Buzzby

The problem with that approach is that, if the first state to legalize blows it, as this would, then everyone will be able to point to it and say that legalization doesn't prevent the black market from continuing to operate just as it does today.

The black market could easily undercut those prices and still turn a big profit. People will go for the best price, especially if possession is legal.

jpbc99

The bill is merely written and introduced. The hefty taxes proposed are put there as an absolute maximum. If the bill goes anywhere, which it probabaly wont, the amount of tax imposed on it would be halved at least. If not reduced to 25% of proposal. Its good to invite discussion. They are high in the onset. When you figure though...an ounce of headies runs 400 if you got a good connect. When you legalize it, sure the value per ounce will drop...and we will be paying the state...but it will be legal...i wouldnt complain. id be happy to pay a hefty tax to be able to get my weed legally...!!!

>>>i got flu, and cough syrup...case my paragraph makes no sense. lol i think it was nora virus

Brifi

When is this being voted on?