Bills filed for Massachusetts.

I think I posted this somewhere else but this is where it belongs..

http://www.masscann.org/legal-reform/60-politics/383-legalization-and-medical-bills-filed-in-massachusetts

There's another bill that calls for the taxation and regulation. The part I don't understand is if they're selling licences for cultivation(non commercial). I think people need to put the pipe down when it comes to selling the idea this will make states rich. The only logical thing is to cut police, court costs, incarceration costs, and possibly medical cost(Perhaps people might drink less if MJ was legal). I know Barney Franks had a bill as well at one time that I think mentioned cultivation of 8-12 plants(I think). Today Patrick is crying about he's going to have to close 2 prisons to cut costs. He mentioned early parole for non violent offenders but this is the perfect opportunity to push through the idea of marijuana decriminalization. I don't see the buzz though.

And why does the media sit quiet on this stuff? Drives me nuts - $$ maker for the state - I know the officials could find something to waste it on.

I've read the legalization bill and it looks decent, especially the permit for farmer-processor-retailer all in one. However the one part I can't agree with is the amount of tax. They want to charge $10 per 1% THC per ounce. Meaning, if you're buying an ounce of a bud with 20% THC, you're paying $200 in just tax! Yeah sure, that's a great way to lower the prices... make the retail cost $200, but oh yeah, put another $200 on top of that with tax. Ridiculous if you ask me. Could be at least cut in half, and the state would still see enormous profits.

digthat27 said:

I've read the legalization bill and it looks decent, especially the permit for farmer-processor-retailer all in one. However the one part I can't agree with is the amount of tax. They want to charge $10 per 1% THC per ounce. Meaning, if you're buying an ounce of a bud with 20% THC, you're paying $200 in just tax! Yeah sure, that's a great way to lower the prices... make the retail cost $200, but oh yeah, put another $200 on top of that with tax. Ridiculous if you ask me. Could be at least cut in half, and the state would still see enormous profits.

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Yeah - that is ridiculous - the political art of looking like they are doing something, but not, by making sure that it's written not to pass. Imagine if they did that with alcohol? Absolut vodka is 80 proof - 40% - so a $10 would be $410. Why don't they do that? It would kill a cash cow. It's like they're trying to take 150 lbs of beef out of a 1 day old calf. Do they think people are looking for designer prices for their weed? If they set it for $10/quarter ounce they would make a fortune - by the time the small owner/grower/operator gets every ounce of his product 'certified' to contain x% - they would have to charge $100's of dollars over street price to make it profitable. This plan would just keep it on the streets and TAX FREE. Real brain child we got writing these bills...oh well - there's always next year.

Freedom for peaceful self ownership should not include regulation or taxation of a plant...if it does...it isn't freedom. It's a revocable privilege. I believe I have a natural right of self ownership and you do to. It IS that simple.