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New York State Could Soon Profit Off Illegal Drug Sales
1/24/08|WKBW - News 7

Governor Spitzer, under his 2008-2009 budget, has proposed to put a tax stamp on all illegal drugs.

"This is a proposal to require a tax stamp on illegal drugs similar to ones that are done in 29 different states including North Carolina," said Spokesmen for the NYS Budget Division Jeffrey Gordon. "It is a provision that will charge a tax against marijuana and other controlled substances and will typically be levied when someone is apprehended and found in possession of such substances."

Under the proposal, dealers would have to cough up $3.50 per gram for marijuana and $200 per gram for other substances like cocaine; a revenue that could bring in big money for New York State.

"We are projecting an increase in revenue of 13 million dollars for 2008-2009, said Gordon. "We are basing that from experiences from other states."

Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark says that even though there is a certain amount of irony behind the proposed bill, Law Enforcement could benefit.

"It doesn't bother us," said Clark. "What it allows us to do is charge someone with the sales of drugs and violations of tax laws. So I get to have an extra criminal charge every time a drug dealer is prosecuted that hasn't paid the taxes."

The Legislature will be acting on Spitzer's proposed budget over the next few months, but should be finished by March 31. If the bill is passed, the bill would take effect 90 days after the budget is approved.

 

Victor_vicious

If this doesn't turn into political suicide then the pot crowd is too stoned too care. In addition to trampling all over your right, they want to tax you and they think thats ironic but ok. I wonder if the tax will be indexed for inflation.
If it weren't for the 'costs' of the arrests and the resulting longer incarceration that would result from this bill $16,000,000.00 for New York State what is that, like the cost of operating two schools. Everyone in New York CIty could leave a $2.00 tip and raise that much.
Buried in the Budget Bill. Gee thats wide open territory. Remember my warnings about what will happen when the politicians really start to realize how much money we are talking about here.
I am willing to bet that, if you figured the percentage of the popultion that lives in New York and used that to figure the amount of pot logically consumed in New York State you could come up with some reasonable figures that would show the effect of legalizing and taxing Marijuana. And the only beuracracy you would need to administer a well designed program is already in place, The State Liqour Commission. When I did this using the Michigan State Department of Agricultures estimate of the crop grown in our state (the last figures I could FInd were from 1995) and a 'sin tax' of $45.00 per oz it is over $50,000,000.00 in new revenue and thats for Michigan, New York would probably be a little more.
All of the groups need to get together and go on offense, The governor has opened the dialog. VV

Buzzby

There are an estimated 24 million marijuana users in the US. The total population is 300 million. That's only 8%. Even if they cared, their combined votes aren't worth very much.

Two-thirds of voters surveyed think marijuana should remain illegal. Just about everyone (except users) think all other currently illegal drugs should remain illegal. The tax stamps would apply to all illegal drugs

The three major anti-prohibition organizations have a total membership of 60,000. That's a quarter of one percent of 24,000,000. Pot smokers are a political nonentity.

__________________

FunkySkunky

That is the sad truth as far as legalization is concerned.

Victor_vicious

And the estimates are that at least 90,000,000 have smoked marijuana at some point in thier lives, I said it a year ago, ITS THE ECONOMY STUPID. The way you make it important to the non-smoking crowd is to point out the benefit to them. Legalize, Regulate and Tax. 8% of the voters in the last gubenitorial election is all that is required to put a proposal on the ballot and thankfully MPP doesn't agree we are a political non-entity. They ran a well organized campaign and have collected almost 1/2 million signatures which will put Medical Marijuana on the ballot for the state of Michigan. Three State's have started petitions to legalize or decriminalize Marijuana.
SO you go ahead Buzzby and keep telling us why it can't be done. Or at least give us a hint of something positive that can be accomplished. VV

 

Buzzby

I have never said it can't be done. I've been working for legalization since before most people on this board were born. If I didn't believe it could be done, I wouldn't be wasting my time, energy, and money. What I said is that more than 99% of marijuana users are so apathetic about getting it legalized that they haven't bothered to join and financially support the organizations that coordinate these efforts.

The three major pro-legalization organizations scrape by on a combined budget of $18 million a year, half of that from a few billionaire supporters. If every marijuana user contributed $25 (less than the amount they'd smoke up in one night), the groups would have $600 million. In what is primarily a propaganda war, the side that can afford the most propaganda generally wins.

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