CO Senator Romer(D) wants to TAX MMJ...

In case you didn't already know...Romer is the BIGGEST DICKHEAD in this state. The same Senator who wanted to open a TOLL ROAD into the ski areas of I-70 a few years back. Romer is a sleaze bucket who will stop at nothing to make himself appear great while crushing others in his way.


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


Sen. Chris Romer (D-Denver) said he plans to amend a bill creating regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries to include a provision placing an excise tax on medicinal cannabis, similar to the excise tax that already exists for alcohol, reports John Ingold at The Denver Post.


If approved by lawmakers, that provision must be put before the voters, due to the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.


Romer wants to use the expected revenue -- which he estimates at about $10 million to $15 million a year -- to fund drug education programs for teens, substance abuse treatment centers, and medical care for veterans and the poor.


The state senator claimed he was concerned that the state's booming medical marijuana industry could create increased recreational marijuana use among young people.


He failed to explain how taxing sick people would solve that perceived problem.


Medical marijuana advocates reacted cautiously to the idea.


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


Corry said he needed to see more specifics about Senator Romer's taxation plan.


The measure would be put into House Bill 1284, which creates new regulations for the state's medical marijuana dispensaries. It is just one of several changes expected in the bill when it comes up for its first hearing next week.

For MY 420th POST...

I just want to say it again. SENATOR CHRIS ROMER (D) IS A DICKHEAD!
(who will NOT be re-elected)

And this is your biggest problem with Republican Tom Masseys House Bill 1284? A bill that would effectively monopolize big dispensaries and put small dispensaries and everyone else out in the cold? Wow, your politics are obviously clouding your judgment.

If marijuana was legal for everyone than a tax would be okay IMO but your right taxing medicine isn't right....they don't prescribe alchohol and cigarettes to patients.

BadDog40 said:

And this is your biggest problem with Republican Tom Masseys House Bill 1284? A bill that would effectively monopolize big dispensaries and put small dispensaries and everyone else out in the cold? Wow, your politics are obviously clouding your judgment.

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I don't think that this is his biggest problem with this bill just another example of what these guys are up to. Macguyver has been on the frontlines of exposing this bill and has many threads about the individual problems with it. Your heart is in the right place but macguyver isn't the one to take out your anger on....he's one of the good guys.

Seriously, what is the problem with taxation of medical marijuana? Personally I think it's fantastic. Our store has been paying local, state, and federal taxes since day one. I think establishing a special MMJ tax would be a great step forward, it means the state acknowledges the industry and wants to help legitimize it. Money talks, it's the only reason the state is willing to listen. We're in a recession where jobs are hard to find and people are scratching for money to get by. This industry doesn't only generate income for dispensaries, growers, middle men, and doctors. It generates jobs for contractors, electricians, hvac people, security companies, commercial real estate agents, garden consultants, and budtenders - to name a few. Taxing it puts money back into your local community's pocket, what is your problem with that?

Criminals don't pay taxes.

Pipe Dream said:

Macguyver has been on the frontlines of exposing this bill and has many threads about the individual problems with it.

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Really? Where would that be? All I've seen is him blaming Obama for the DEA raid. There are a thousand things in this bill that are bad and yet the only thing he can point out is speculation from a democrat thats not even in the bill. Not that I'm defending Romer, but Romers comments are irrelevant if this bill passes as it would just about kill medical marijuana in Colorado.

BadDog-

In war it's important to 'Know the Enemy' That enemy IS Romer, not just Massey. If you check the threads on this site (and more importantly the Senate records) you'll quickly find that Romer is single handedly responsible for a slew of FAILED bills that he tried to get support for...that were/are BAD. Romer was the one who started this whole regulation mess of bills and the last one was shot down by Denver lawyer Robert Corry, a 420 friendly lawyer. Romer saw his jig was up when NOBODY would help support his bill (by the way it went so far as requiring individuals to forfeit thier 5th amendment rights as secured by the U.S. Constitution.) Sorry, but Romer IS the bad guy here, Massey is just a lackey who is trying to ride Romer's wave, BIG mistake. This has NOTHING to do with political affiliation as we are all in grave danger here and elsewhere in this country. If you can't find the links to the threads here that detail all these things just ask and we'll find em for ya.

Now to the others who think 'taxing' MMJ is a good thing...you couldn't be more wrong.

-Firstly, the FEDERAL goverment still classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 Drug (worse than cocaine or crack) and they WILL continue DEA raids and more is to come. Amnesty at the state level was/is a lie, accept that and move on, I suppose. Were we lied to? Yes. What to do next is the important thing.

-Secondly, are ALL of your other doctors prescriptions, medicines, pills taxable? NO. Can people on reduced incomes or people with little to no income afford MORE taxes on ANYTHING? NO.
The state and feds want it both ways, which is wrong. You cannot expect to gather taxes/income from something that you still consider illegal.

- Thirdly, NONE of us are safe, with the appointment of Bush-era holdover (by President Obama) Michele Leonhart who is OPENLY opposed to MMJ in all it's forms. The DEA is out of control and the president is not going to try and stop them. We are in trouble here.

I hope this makes sense to you and others because we really are in trouble, make no mistake about it.

-Firstly, the FEDERAL goverment still classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 Drug (worse than cocaine or crack) and they WILL continue DEA raids and more is to come. Amnesty at the state level was/is a lie, accept that and move on, I suppose. Were we lied to? Yes. What to do next is the important thing.

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Sure, this is true. How is this relevant to the taxation issue? Nothing has changed with the federal government and it isn't likely to for a while. However, a state government accepting specific tax on a federally illegal substance is proof the state is at least moving forward. It was a win for Oakland and it will be a win for us. A negative point against taxation is it clearly identifies to the government who the big dogs are and who the guys scratching their asses are. This however affects dispensaries, not patients. Dispensary owners have clearly accepted the risk of federal interference and if they haven't they're nuts.

-Secondly, are ALL of your other doctors prescriptions, medicines, pills taxable? NO. Can people on reduced incomes or people with little to no income afford MORE taxes on ANYTHING? NO.
The state and feds want it both ways, which is wrong. You cannot expect to gather taxes/income from something that you still consider illegal.

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No, you don't pay taxes on medication. But you can bet your ass the pharmacists pay thousands for their DEA licenses and even more in taxes.
I think what you'll find is dispensaries dropping their prices to be able to include tax, not tax on top of a $20 gram. Now, is this going to drive up overhead for dispensaries? Hell yes. However, the market will adjust itself. Over the past six months I have seen a steady decline in OZ prices from independent caregivers - from $300/oz all the way down to today's $225/oz. The end user has seen a steady decline in pricing as well and I'm sure it will continue to go down. Maybe we see a slight increase in prices from dispensaries trying to cope but I really doubt it is likely to hurt the patients.

- Thirdly, NONE of us are safe, with the appointment of Bush-era holdover (by President Obama) Michele Leonhart who is OPENLY opposed to MMJ in all it's forms. The DEA is out of control and the president is not going to try and stop them. We are in trouble here.

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Explain to me how this is relevant to the taxation issue, please. Yeah, the feds are against weed, no news there. Your argument is weak on this topic.

Like I said, I'm not defending Romer, he is as big of POS as they come, but Massey is no different and this bill is worse than Romers. It is THIS bill that requires people to forfeit their 5th Amendment right, it will make it illegal for anyone to use medical marijuana 1000 ft from a school (even in their own home), it will make it illegal for anyone with ANY type of past drug conviction ever to be a caregiver or work in a dispensary, it will require dispensaries to grow their own, require anyone growing to post a public sign and have a neighborhood hearing, limit caregivers to 5 patients, it also includes multiple doctor visits to get a card, along with a ton of other regulations.

Of course the so called advocate (dispensary lackey) Matt Brown is all for the bill along with the big dispensaries since it leaves them with zero competition and complete control over the industry. This bill has already cleared the first hurdle and very well could be voted into law at which point Corry and a handful of other Attorneys will fight the constitutionality of it. Read the bill at http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/0C6B6577EC6DB1E8872576A80029D7E2?Open&file=1284_01.pdf

TreeWizard said:

Seriously, what is the problem with taxation of medical marijuana? Personally I think it's fantastic. Our store has been paying local, state, and federal taxes since day one. I think establishing a special MMJ tax would be a great step forward, it means the state acknowledges the industry and wants to help legitimize it. Money talks, it's the only reason the state is willing to listen. We're in a recession where jobs are hard to find and people are scratching for money to get by. This industry doesn't only generate income for dispensaries, growers, middle men, and doctors. It generates jobs for contractors, electricians, hvac people, security companies, commercial real estate agents, garden consultants, and budtenders - to name a few. Taxing it puts money back into your local community's pocket, what is your problem with that?

Criminals don't pay taxes.

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I see what your saying and I agree that taxes would be a good thing and make it more officially acceptable. but to my knowledge some things are tax exmpt.

Now I will be completely honest I don't understand legal and political jargon. I have no problems with people's income from medical marijuana being taxed but I wouldn't want to see patients having to pay extra for medecine. If i misinterpreted what was being said than i apologize but I wouldn't want them to constantly raise taxes like they do on tobacco and liquor which are products that people use for choice as opposed to legal medical marijuana.

There will always be something the MMJ Community will not like about the bill and there will be something that will be good for the MMJ Community... We don't really know what the bill will be like until it is finalized... Compromise will be important in this stalemate from both side... taxing is not all a bad thing as it can reap other benefits to our movement... however, it also give government powers to keep the tab on the MMJ Community... so everything should consist of a good balance here cause not everyone will get what they want...

Pipe Dream said:

I see what your saying and I agree that taxes would be a good thing and make it more officially acceptable. but to my knowledge some things are tax exmpt.

Now I will be completely honest I don't understand legal and political jargon. I have no problems with people's income from medical marijuana being taxed but I wouldn't want to see patients having to pay extra for medecine. If i misinterpreted what was being said than i apologize but I wouldn't want them to constantly raise taxes like they do on tobacco and liquor which are products that people use for choice as opposed to legal medical marijuana.

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Good point man. The taxation should be written into stone and something everyone can agree on. My lawyers told me to expect 9.75%, rough but I'll deal with it. Personally I think the state should find it's money elsewhere, but sales tax is a great source of revenue and a good way to keep the industry in check.

That's the problem with taxation...IT ALWAYS starts out as 'a small amount' . One of the benefits of being old is that you have seen many mistakes over the years that were made and still are. You give an inch they take a mile. I actually think taxes could be good as well...if the DEA and police were not still raiding dispensaries in CA, CO and elsewhere. Think about it...the government wants to collect taxes...on something THEY claim is illegal. I believe that in and of itself is illegal. Kinda like a boiler room gambling operation that makes alot of money..it's illegal but they want a cut. Either make it legal and tax sales but DO NOT tax MMJ unless you want to tax ALL prescription drugs, period. I think MMJ as we know it may have just 'jumped the shark'.

TreeWizard-

For a person that represents (obviously) a dispensary, it is clear where your allegiances are (NOT with the people.) Hope you sleep well at night. You never know, one of these days the doors might be kicked in and you will be 'the bad guy' Be careful where you place your trust, and remember what people you are supposed to serve.

Alrite, for all of you mile high tokers, you are safe for now... just hours ago, your elected officals decided to do a "NO-VOTE" on House Bill 1284... as far as of now, i am sure there is political manuvering happening on the weekend and so the vote might be brought up again on Monday...Its important to know what changes to the bill were made (if any) as politicans hold up certain votes for political gains..


http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/03/05/No-vote-on-Colorado-marijuana-measure/UPI-81111267814721/

Mac,

I get where your coming from, but when it comes to taxes any form of income is taxable, regardless of the legality of the source. Remember, they took Capone down for income tax evasion because he wasn't paying taxes on his mob income. Now, excise taxes are a different story, but It was the state, not the Fed's that were considering it. Since the state is treating MMJ as a legal substance they have the right to slap an excise tax on it (even if I think it would be a stupid move) or regulate it in any way that doesn't violate the constituition, but I agree that the Fed's have no right to claim anything except income taxes until they change the Federal laws to legalize MMJ.

Something everyone needs to keep in mind when reading these proposed bills is that politicians always ask for a hell of a lot more then they expect to get, and they always throw in several items that they don't expect to fly because they can use them as bargaining chips. "Ok, I'll drop the provision requiring such and such, but you have to support the clause that gives my district funding for a new so and so". I'm not a politician, but the military works on the same principle and i spent enough years playing that game to know how the system works. Always ask for at least double what you really want, that way you have a good chance of getting what you actually need once the compromising is done. Don't sweat too much about what is in the initial bill- the time to start worrying is when the bill has been through over half the committees and still has the crap in it you object to.