Weed tax on the horizon: Colorado is set to become the first state in the nation to collect tax revenue from marijuana sales. Both chambers of the state legislature have passed legislation that would tax the substance—which is legal for recreational use in the state—and Governor John Hickenlooper is expected to sign it. Asked what how the federal government will respond should the legislation take effect, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s office in Colorado said that the DOJ “is taking into consideration all aspects of this issue.” (Photo: Reuters) source
A Map That Shows the Dramatic Spread of Legal Weed in the U.S.
Very pertinent today, with a bill awaiting Maryland governor Martin O’Malley’s signature to legalize medical marijuana.
Nearly half (48%) of all adults have tried marijuana, including 57% of Millennials. In the past year, 12% of Americans have used marijuana either for a medical issue or recreationally, or both. Age makes a difference: 27% of those under 30 say they have used marijuana in the past year, three times the percentage in any other age category.
To whatever extent cannabis use among adults still holds a level of stigma or taboo thanks to its illegal nature, by the numbers it’s clearly something of an open secret. Support for legalizing it has now reached majority levels, and this isn’t something to be laughed off with some lame joke about Cheetos — countless thousands of Americans now languish in prison for non-violent use.
52% support marijuana legalization in a new Pew poll, compared with 45% who don’t. It’s the first national poll ever to show majority support for legalization.
Eight former Drug Enforcement Administration chiefs said Tuesday that the federal government needs to act now or it might lose the chance to nullify Colorado and Washington’s laws legalizing recreational marijuana use.
The statement came on the same day a United Nations-based drug agency urged the U. S. government to challenge those laws, saying they violate international drug treaties.
The Department of Justice is expected to officially address the recently-passed marijuana legalization legislation in Washington and Colorado, and few expect the Obama Administration to react favorably to the new laws. That said, with the possibility that 25 of the 50 United States could have legalized medical marijuana by the end of 2014, it’s becoming increasingly clear that politicians are fighting a losing battle that is likely to start costing them votes (if it hasn’t already) in the years to come.
A dangerous thief is on the loose in Wichita, KS, and police believe the suspect portrayed in the sketch at the top of this post could be behind a string of robberies that left three confiscated marijuana bags a little lighter than the day they arrived in the Wichita PD evidence room. Here’s hoping police can bring that terrifying criminal to justice sooner rather than later. (h/t to Gawker) source
We knew it was too good to be true. Why didn’t Tancredo realize when he made the bet, or when he agreed to uphold it several days ago, that smoking weed would set a bad example for his grandchildren? source
This belongs over here. We’re waiting on bated breath for Tancredo’s post-smoke report.
Obama: Pot users should not be ‘top priority’ of federal law enforcement
President Barack Obama says recreational users of marijuana in states that have legalized the substance should not be a “top priority” of federal law enforcement officials prosecuting the war on drugs.
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Obama said of pot users in Colorado and Washington during an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Barbara Walters.
“It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal,” he said, invoking the same approach taken toward users of medicinal marijuana in 18 states where it’s legal.
The problem with this quote: Not that he said it, but that the last time he made a similar claim, it wasn’t followed by the federal agencies that actually enact the policy — something which led Dilbert creator Scott Adams to claim he wouldn’t vote for the president. Check back in two years to see how he’s doing on this issue.
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The economic arguments in favor of legalizing pot are no hallucination. Forecasting firm IHS Global Insight reports that Washington state could pull down nearly $2 billion in additional revenue over five years, through fees on licenses granted to pot providers. Colorado, which would manage pot sales differently, could earn about $342 million from excise taxes over five years. In a tough economy, with voters staunchly opposed to most new taxes, that’s a meaningful amount of revenue.Will Pot Be the Next Obama Stimulus Plan? (via usnews)
We have a natural fit with Colorado. I embrace the notion of being a spoiler. The two-party system is outdated. Politics right now is very status quo. It’s really like a non-choice.Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson • Discussing the role he could play in Colorado, where the race is very tight and the state’s marijuana ballot initiative plays to his base’s strengths. He stands a chance to make an impact in the state than most for a few reasons: Libertarians tend to do better in western states, the party was founded in Colorado, and he’s perhaps the best-known candidate on the ballot who supports legalization — which is a hot topic in the state. Depending on how he does, he could take votes away from either Obama or Romney. Spoiler, indeed.
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