Proposition AA could spell hayday for Colorado Black Market Marijuana - Polidicks

[quote]Proposition AA would be the highest tax increase in Colorado history, a reckless experiment that would create a dysfunctional market for marijuana, undermining the goal of the “Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative” (Amendment 64).... ...Excessive taxes create a dysfunctional system that is “ineffective in practice” and creates a marijuana market ripe for takeover by the unregulated, untaxed underground market.[/quote] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/SOWORM4.jpg[/thumb] [url=http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20131021/OPINION04/310210022/Soapbox-Proposition-AA-would-create-dysfunctional-market-marijuana]News Link[/url] The Coloradoan [url=http://www.postindependent.com/news/rifle/8517063-113/marijuana-cannabis-pot-proposition]News Link 2[/url] Post Independent What Proposition AA [i]will[/i] do is instate a [u]15% Excise Tax[/u]. Which is a Tax on a specific good (ie Gasoline) and be dealt with when the grower sells to the processor/store. After which an additional [u]10% Sales Tax[/u] will be added when customers pick up their baggie/joints from the smoke shop. Folks fear that because Voters cannot control the tax amount buyers will resort to buying through unregulated means (ie Your Dealer) as opposed to the store, and will result in Proposition 64 to fail and for opponents to attack it and remove it down the road. Any other Coloradoan's (or anyone else) out there with their thoughts?

Best case scenario would be it not passing. Spread the word and get people to know the consequences.

It's almost as if the legislative branch is in the back pocket of drug cartels. Hmmm.

[QUOTE=Harnbrand;42658512]It's almost as if the legislative branch is in the back pocket of drug cartels. Hmmm.[/QUOTE] man. let me get some of what you're smoking 8)

It's like they hate money. At least money that they can officially do something with, as opposed to anti-marijuana lobbyist cash.

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;42658541]man. let me get some of what you're smoking 8)[/QUOTE] I don't know if you can smoke maple syrup

15%? How does that compare to taxes on Tobacco and Alcohol? Is it stacking with other taxes?

At the same time there is another Amendment also on the Ballot; Amendment 66, which also aims to raise money for Education. It's a little controversial. It aims to raise Colorado taxes by 50 million short of a Billion ($950.1m). All of the collections would go to schools, and it also aims to set an income-based tax system. Where those who make more are taxed at a higher percentage to meet the goal. Great idea as ALL of the money is going for education but 1 Billion in taxes, for one state, is pretty large. Especially considering that in [url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20903861/colorado-tax-revenue-exceeded-expectations]2012 the state collected roughly 7.6 Billion[/url] in tax revenue. That's about a 13% raise in taxes next year. But again, it's to upgrade our K-12 education. On the other hand, the Marijuana Prop AA, seeks to bring in about 40 million in revenue for Education. Although there is debate on what it can be used for in education. Namely construction, but not as freely as Amendment 66. Also the law has a lot of dealing with AA. It's all pretty interesting.

They need to leave the weed alone and let amendment 64 do its thing, but another priority is getting the taxes raised by it to really work for the schools. There's tons of schools that really could use some help right now.

You also have to factor in other important details. With it being legal, and grown in state, the yield I assume would be rather significant. Due to the fact of no middle to middle man, it allows it to be cheaper. So, in my theory, while it may have a 25% tax on it, the price per gram may be ~10$ cheaper than average.

[QUOTE=TwitchWitEt;42661117]You also have to factor in other important details. With it being legal, and grown in state, the yield I assume would be rather significant. Due to the fact of no middle to middle man, it allows it to be cheaper. So, in my theory, while it may have a 25% tax on it, the price per gram may be ~10$ cheaper than average.[/QUOTE] I heard an 1/8th would add up to around 60 bucks, which is what we pay for 1/8ths in the shitty midwest. It's asinine if true.

I suppose we may see more information when washington releases their prices as well.

Psst, legislators. You're only taxing legitimate growers. Drug dealers wont pay you any more than they do now.

[QUOTE=Keys;42658781]At the same time there is another Amendment also on the Ballot; Amendment 66, which also aims to raise money for Education. It's a little controversial. It aims to raise Colorado taxes by 50 million short of a Billion ($950.1m). All of the collections would go to schools, and it also aims to set an income-based tax system. Where those who make more are taxed at a higher percentage to meet the goal. Great idea as ALL of the money is going for education but 1 Billion in taxes, for one state, is pretty large. Especially considering that in [url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20903861/colorado-tax-revenue-exceeded-expectations]2012 the state collected roughly 7.6 Billion[/url] in tax revenue. That's about a 13% raise in taxes next year. But again, it's to upgrade our K-12 education. On the other hand, the Marijuana Prop AA, seeks to bring in about 40 million in revenue for Education. Although there is debate on what it can be used for in education. Namely construction, but not as freely as Amendment 66. Also the law has a lot of dealing with AA. It's all pretty interesting.[/QUOTE] Beware they said that same thing about lotteries in my state, but then slipped in a little bit about the "capitol projects" fund which turns out to be little more than $80,000,000 bridges and $17,000,000 for a single intersection, meanwhile we have some of the [URL="http://www.city-data.com/school/jefferson-high-school-il.html"]worst[/URL] schools in the country and [URL="http://www.city-data.com/zips/61104.html"]Rampant[/URL] poverty. (The heatmap for average income in my neighborhood is the part in question.) I'm not 100% sure but I have a feeling it's the same story across the state, but Rockford is a particularly good example since it's large, but not large enough for people to have a reason to skew results like in Chicago.

I was expecting this. It becomes legal but they get money greedy and think hurr let's put huge taxes on it. Except that will just strangle the legal market and shit will go back to exactly what it was before.

[QUOTE=Suttles;42658683]I don't know if you can smoke maple syrup[/QUOTE] That's what you silly americans think

It depends on how the taxes are. Remember that tobacco and oil companies have really high taxes on them, but they can still operate and turn pretty handsome profits. You just need economies of scale and some big marijuana corporations to come into existence.

I know America isn't Britain, but VAT here is 20% on pretty much everything, this doesn't seem so high when you look at it in comparison.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;42664940]It depends on how the taxes are. Remember that tobacco and oil companies have really high taxes on them, but they can still operate and turn pretty handsome profits. You just need economies of scale and some big [B]marijuana corporations[/B] to come into existence.[/QUOTE] I know that it is inevitable, and not inherently wrong, but I just see the headlines now "Marijuana corporation led by ex-drug cartel leaders."

Is good way to make money taxing durgs if you execute in a proper manner

[QUOTE=Liem;42664886]That's what you silly americans think[/QUOTE] Imagine dabbing a bit of maple syrup.

That's p ridiculous. I live in Colorado and can ALREADY get cheaper weed than what is sold at dispensaries that is just as good in quality. I'll probably keep buying from the 60 year old lady that grows pot for lols around here.