@dmmsch
Noch ein bisschen Marihuana für das Wochenende.
An Education in Economics
Let's talk about the money first.
In addition to creating 10,000 new jobs, Colorado raked in $76 million in new tax revenue from marijuana production and sales last year. That includes fees on the industry, plus pre-existing sales taxes on medical marijuana products.
Some $15 million of that revenue is specifically earmarked for public schools, thanks to a special voter-approved 15% excise tax on marijuana sales. That tax will take in another $16 million in the next fiscal year, as well.
"Money from marijuana sales that used to disappear into the underground market is now appearing in the state's school construction fund," said Mason Tvert, communications director for Marijuana Policy Project. "Colorado voters wanted a portion of the tax revenue to be used to improve our public schools, and that’s exactly what’s happening."
And that's not all...
In addition to the added tax revenue, Colorado saved the $145 million it was spending to fight the drug.
At a time when many states and municipalities are strapped for cash, marijuana is a godsend.
Washington state, which legalized marijuana last summer, levies a 25% excise tax at three levels: producer to processor, processor to retailer, and retailer to consumer. It's expected to bring in more than $694 million in state revenue through the middle of 2019.
The state of Alaska stands to gain $23 million in annual tax revenue from the marijuana market.
Oregon could see nearly $40 million in marijuana taxes the first year alone. That money would be divided as follows: 40% to a school fund, 25% to substance abuse treatment, 15% to the state police, and 20% to local law enforcement.
Also, as in Colorado, hundreds of millions of dollars would be saved from enforcement.
A Cato study says legalizing drugs would save the U.S. about $41 billion a year in enforcing the drug laws.
“The tax revenue from marijuana gets dwarfed by the savings in law enforcement, the courts and prisons. You are moving the entire industry from a black market.” New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson told Oregon Live. “If there were no tax revenue at all we would be way, way ahead because of all of those other things.”
New Mexico will have marijuana legalization on the ballot in 2016, joining California, Arizona, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts.
So again, Mr. President, this is an economic issue — one many states are clearly open to discussing.
Now you want to talk about war?
Let's talk about America's forgotten war...