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February 26, 2010 08:09 PM UTC

Now That's What We're Talking About

  • 29 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

As the Denver Post reports:

A state senator said Thursday he wants to ask voters to impose a special tax on medical marijuana.

Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, said he intends to amend a bill that creates regulations for medical-marijuana dispensaries to include a provision that places an excise tax on medical marijuana, similar to the special excise tax that already exists for alcohol. Because of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, that provision – if first approved by lawmakers – must be put before the voters before the tax could be imposed.

Romer wants to use the resulting revenue – which he hopes to be about $10 million to $15 million annually – to fund drug education programs for teens, substance- abuse treatment centers, and medical care for veterans and the poor. Romer said he is concerned the state’s boom in medical-marijuana use could create a companion boom in recreational marijuana use among young people…

Attorney Rob Corry said he’s intrigued by the idea but would first need to see more specifics.

“With taxation comes legitimacy,” Corry said. “This industry is one of the few that is asking to be taxed and legitimized to join the rest of the business world.”

The measure would be inserted into House Bill 1284, which creates new requirements for the state’s medical-marijuana dispensaries, and is just one of several changes the bill will likely see when it comes up for its first hearing next week.

We think it’s a great starting point for discussion about this potential new revenue source, but at the risk of sounding uncompassionate, we don’t think the money raised needs to fund treatment for a “companion boom” of recreational marijuana use–Chris Romer clearly doesn’t get out much, that horse had left the barn by about 1970 or so. How about taking whatever excise tax percentage for medical marijuana Sen. Romer comes up with, doubling it, and putting the money straight into the General Fund budget–helping pay for all the services residents use, pot smokers and teetotalers alike? Like Rob Corry says, they want to be taxed! How often will you ever hear that?

It’s an opportunity our cash-strapped state can’t refuse, we think support for generous taxation from the medical marijuana community would find a much more positive reception after the last week of budget slashing misery–maybe just the leverage they need to strike a favorable bargain.

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29 thoughts on “Now That’s What We’re Talking About”

  2. Romer said he is concerned the state’s boom in medical-marijuana use could create a companion boom in recreational marijuana use among young people…

    If Sen. Romer is worried about that, then he should probably introduce legislation to shut down Red Rocks–especially Reggae on the Rocks and all jam band concerts.

  4. Medical marijuana use is not like recreational use of alcohol.  It is for medical purposes.  Why not slap a healthy tax on prescription meds if that is the argument?

    1. Wouldn’t a tax on medicinal pot drive up the cost of health care? I thought our esteemed policymakers were trying to have the opposite effect on health care costs.

      Romer’s proposed tax reeks of “Reefer Madness” paranoia.

      If you’re going to tax medicinal pot, tax other prescription drugs, too, including Viagra. That will hit a few legislators in the billfold.

      2. Since it’s not a pharmaceutical drug that can be prescribed; since it’s still a Schedule I drug federally. It can be “recommended” by physicians in Colorado, though — and taxed.

        I agree with many of the people posting here: if it’s going to be taxed, put it in the general fund, so that all may benefit. And anyway, let’s get real: the money would probably be taken out of a fund for drug treatment or veteran’s care, anyway, and used for the general fund, as has happened to numerous agencies already due to our economic mess.  

  5. didn’t the legislature in the last year or two have to use the tax on cigarettes the voters passed that was supposed to go for educating us against this hazardous habit?

  6. I think drug education for teens is a waste of money. Treatment for “recreational” use of marijuana is as silly as “treatment” for social drinkers. What’s the point?

    As someone in recovery the past 19 years (alcohol) I would like to see any revenues from this tax be used for substance abuse treatment (alcohol and drugs). Colorado is 49th in funding for such programs, and we have an exploding prison population that now eats up almost 10% of the general fund and we’re broke.

    73% of the prison population has substance abuse problems. Let’s start connecting the dots and put resources where we need to put them to enhance public safety and lessen the burden on the taxpayer.

  8. Imagine how much is saved by not arresting people for using a plant the no one has ever died from or overdosed on?

    yup. I’ll say ditto on that statement.

    Ya’ll would be surprised to find out the statistics of how many people get arrested for  possession of marijuana. Seriously people, don’t take anyone’s word for it. Do your own research on the % of county and city court cases for victimless crime situations where the person was cited or arrested ONLY for possession of marijuana – you’d be surprised how big the % is!

    Kudos to Romer for working so hard to wipe the egg off his face from his previous failures on regulating the MMJ industry – he’s still definitely out of touch with his constituents, but at least he finally entered the ballpark of reality on this topic

    1. but I can’t help being curious about whether the anti-pot folks would vote for the tax, punishing medical use but showing de facto acceptance of medical pot legitimacy, or against as a way of showing disapproval for legalization under any circumstances.  

  9. I’ll say it again, just like I did back then, Mr. Sponsor: you’re creating an association that marijuana is somehow responsible for all the woes of drug abuse. I personally don’t like it.

    By the way, we already have an ineffective national anti-drug program aimed at teens: it’s called the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

    1. go into the general fund? Shouldn’t it pay for tummy tucks and Jazzercise classes, or something? I’m concerned candy and soda consumption by responsible adults could lead to a companion boom in recreational use by young people.

  10. Once I finished the article I was thinking “Oh great, a new drug program.  Yep, THAT is what we really need money for these days…”

    And surprise, surprise, I’m not the only heartless bastard who hates the children.  Put it in the general fund.  Putting it toward public education will do more to prevent drug use than any lousy “drug education program.”

  11. Legalizing and taxing pot gives the government a vested interest in its usage.  That’s good for both the government and the potsellers.

    Yes, admitted or not, it’s a step toward general legalization, which is a good thing.

    As for those posters who really believe marijuana is being used for medicinal purposes only, contact me at once.  I can offer you a fabulous deal on a 35 acre ranchette in the San Luis Valley.;-)

  12. Marijuana possession and distribution is illegal under Federal laws.  Wouldn’t collecting taxes on marijuana distribution also be illegal?  Therefore, wouldn’t the governor, or the attorney general, or maybe Senator Romer be guilty of Federal marijuana laws if they collect taxes on its distribution??

    1. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_1…

      In an interview with The Denver Post, Suthers emphasized that the opinion did not speak to the legality of selling medical marijuana itself, only whether the sale of it is taxable. He said the sale of illegal drugs is taxable, so the sale of medical marijuana could be taxed, regardless of its legal status.

      Interestingly, the whole illegality of marijuana at the federal level was first based on taxation:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M…

      1. I guess that’s like the provision that you must declare all income on your tax return, regardless of whether the source is an illegal activity. (That’s how they got Al Capone — for tax evasion.)

        They should just decriminalize it at the Federal level which would remove these ridiculous situations.  

  13. I think there is a role for an excise tax on the cultivation of medical marijuana in our regulatory scheme for this new and burgeoning industry.  The Colorado Constitution requires legislation proposing new taxes to originate in the House of Representatives.  That means I can’t introduce an excise tax bill and neither can Sen. Chris Romer.  I’ve been suggesting the idea to members of the House of Representatives for several months but the political timidity is deafening.  

    Any new tax will require voter approval.  Conventional wisdom tells us voters are more likely to approve a tax when they know how the proceeds will be spent.  Dedicating the excise tax revenue to substance abuse and mental health services seems like a better idea than “let’s fund our kids’ schools with marijuana tax” or just dumping the money in the general fund.  Voters are also more likely to approve a tax that they don’t personally have to pay.  I’m not saying this is a “sin tax,” I’m just sayin’…

    1. Conventional wisdom tells us voters are more likely to approve a tax when they know how the proceeds will be spent.

      Most initiatives that fail end up failing because that was not communicated to the voters.

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