Arnold "What if pot is legal and taxed?"
Smellyman
Asia Posts: 4,524
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Smellyman
Asia Posts: 4,524
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I think it is a good idea, although I am not sure how much tax money is really lost. I mean anyone involved in the drug trade who is higher up than a small time street dealer, is probably going to be laundering their money, which means they will make it look like legitimate income and pay income tax on it. I think a lot of the times they make it look like legit income 2 or 3 times over so they might be paying more tax on the money than they might be if it was legal.
In short, the government always gets theirs, and no matter what will still spend ANYONE'S tax dollars, be they Al Capone's or Kel Varnsen's IRRESPONSIBLY.
Yes, but Steppenwolf
Politicians continually spout off about needing to tax this or that. Let's hold them accountable to exactly how the pot tax would fit into the current budget/spending scheme.
Also, if they are doing it because they NEED the tax money then shame on them. I guess it's criminal (pot) until the greedy government needs the money and then it's OK...
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Why do people WANT to be taxed on it? I think they would HAVE to go to an amsterdam coffee-shop setup, or at least let private companies be free to sell/package/produce what they want....too many restrictions on potency, price etc, and the black market would continue to exist....let them do what they want, tax it LIGHTLY, and sell renewable grow licenses as the main revenue source...
its immoral and bad for you and all of those things....but if we can make a buck? fuck it legalize it all.
although i'll take it, however it gets legalized. government hypocrisy or no, as long as they do the right thing and legalize this wonderful natural plant that never killed anyone directly or made anyone overdose. as far as drugs go its cheap, can be dirt cheap, if you want dirt weed, but even the goods aren't too bad. and if we can grow it, all the better.
legalize it
don't criticize it.
I'm not going to antagonize about it's legality because I simply do not care one way or another. I'll admit that I don't look very favorably on pot users in general, but that's their business if they want to do it.
The part that bothers me is the taxes. Now if they were going to tax it and REDUCE taxes somewhere else then they might have the start of a plan.
Yet again if they make it legal just for tax revenue purposes, then it is extremely hypocritical....but then again the government is always extremely hypocritical so why should this be any different.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Right. Then we can lay off a bunch of police officers, court workers and other government officials.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
they'll have plenty to do...it's not like crime will go away any time soon...
So, with that logic we should just have these "wars" to create unnecessary work for these officials? Maybe we should start up a "War on indecently dressing". That way we can create even more jobs for people to police how others dress themselves.
Nope. I'm not saying that at all. Just saying there are consequences to actions.
I'm pointing out that the money that the government saves translates to needing less people. I personally don't care either way, but saving the government a bunch of time and money has its own ramifications.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Okay, that's cool. I personally think that the government does need to save money regardless of the fact that that means less people working for the government because I don't think it was ever intended for it to become so bloated. Having said that, I still think there would be a demand for police officers, court workers, and other government officials if marijuana was legalized. They would just be able to focus on more important thigns.
I am confused.
Yeah - you are confused.
Again, I am definitely for small government, less spending, less taxes, less government power, etc.
I don't care either way on the pot legalization.
I was pointing out to people that if it being legal saves the government a ton of time and money (and I'm not even sure that it does), it might mean that government would need less people. Really, I'm just trying to point out to those people that actions have consequences, but personally I do want government to be smaller and I do know that means people will lose their government jobs.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
now that is confusing.
That's what confuses me too. Even this thread is about the government letting people smoke pot, but taxing them for it which just is another way of the government controlling their lives.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
how do you make a plant illegal? especially this one.
its ridiculous. they shouldn't tax it, but if that's the only way to make it legal-by all means.
Absolutely. Every dollar you give to the government is another dollar you won't have to spend as you wish.
Furthermore, every program, policy and law they put in place with that tax money dictates rules and regulations to everyone affected by it. Even the people getting handouts or benefiting from programs have to follow the rules and regulations of it....and that's a form of control
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Tax revenue is the only way to get this message thru to most non-users. 'What's in it for me?'...
In a perfect world, people would be free to have a closet grow for themselves and a few friends that didn't want to bother, and this wouldn't even be an issue....But linking some sort of tax revenue, to be used for drug rehab ( :roll: ), and health expenses seems to be the only way to appease most non-users...
but ya, it's a double-edged sword. If the laws become harsher for black market distribution, while only allowing heavily taxed and regulated private industry, then it's a step in the WRONG direction, imo.
everyone needs to think critically about any legislation regarding decrim or legalization, because we KNOW the government is going to manipulate the bills in whatever fashion benefits THEM the most.
The last attempt at decrim in Canada was a joke, pot activists saw thru it immediately (decrim bill with small fines for possession, while cracking down on large quantity/dealers/growers)....yet most people I know thought this was a GOOD thing, until the hypocrisy was spelled out for them.... People need to recognize the repercussions of TOO MUCH compromise.....then again, if you live in an area with draconian drug possession laws to begin with (we're now considering mandatory minimums last I heard), I guess you take what you can get....:(