Pretty in Pain
Active Member
Does anyone know if Barney Franks proposition to decriminalize weed at the federal level (making it a states issue) is getting any traction?
Federal Decriminalization
- Thread starter Pretty in Pain
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PVS
Active Member
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2943
saddly thus far it has the same amount of cosponsors as last year's bill...so far...i guess we should pray
saddly thus far it has the same amount of cosponsors as last year's bill...so far...i guess we should pray
Pretty in Pain
Active Member
Thanx for the link. I was hoping that with Obama in office, it might get more support. I am so sick and tired of this one aspect of my life making me a 'criminal'. Then there is all the much needed revenue it could provide for states. The whole thing really gets my dander up on a good day, but I know I'm 'preaching to the choir'. I shouldn't be stressing this shit, but I found a moldy bud in my scanty stash and it put me in a bad mood. I just need to blaze up my bubbler, chill, and pray for legalization, lol! 
Rob Roy
Well-Known Member
Do you believe the States should control your body rather than the Federal government?Thanx for the link. I was hoping that with Obama in office, it might get more support. I am so sick and tired of this one aspect of my life making me a 'criminal'. Then there is all the much needed revenue it could provide for states. The whole thing really gets my dander up on a good day, but I know I'm 'preaching to the choir'. I shouldn't be stressing this shit, but I found a moldy bud in my scanty stash and it put me in a bad mood. I just need to blaze up my bubbler, chill, and pray for legalization, lol!
Pretty in Pain
Active Member
No. What I do think is that alot more states would have the balls to legalize, or at least decrim if they didn't have the feds breathing down their necks. That would also cut the legs out from under the DEA, leaving enforcment of drug law up to states who don't have the resources to do it themselves all of which would make the world alot safer for growers and tokers. The unconstitutional federal laws on M have got to go before there will be any real progress at the state level, IMO.
Rob Roy
Well-Known Member
Thank you for responding. I agree getting rid of the Federal Government involvement with weed is good, there involvement is clearly morally wrong and probably illegal too, since the Federal Government wasn't formed for that type of stuff originally.
I'm confused in your earlier post you mention "revenue". Are you in favor of States taxing legalized weed? Should a government force people to buy weed that is taxed? Should other plants be taxed too if I decide to grow them?
How about this? If weed is legal the need for all the enforcement goes away...Fire a shitload of the various brands of cops and defund prisons that house people convicted of victimless crimes of pot posession etc.
Doing that would decrease the need for taxes wouldn't it?
Purplekrunchie
Well-Known Member
Pretty soon some states may have no choice but to take up this fight. I mean look at California, alot of them already favor legalizing, and their economy is in shambles. But a fight they will have, as the feds, who already rape our wallets wont see a need for California to do this, but they need a cash cow and fast or things are going to get a bit nasty there.
Meanwhile, I think the feds will go no further than calling it a health issue, and that means forced treatment which to me equates to no more than disguised jail time. It still keeps their paid DEA thugs in buisness, and puts a prettier face on the failed war on drugs. Whatever it takes to still make money without offering liberties in return.
Whatever states do, I don't see growing becoming legal sadly, harder to tax us and we know everything is about money, we are their little cash slaves.
But it hasnt stopped us so far and it wont than either. I just get sick to my stomache every time I hear of someone getting put in prison for anything MJ related, people suffer, they profit, all in a days work for a corupt federal government.
Meanwhile, I think the feds will go no further than calling it a health issue, and that means forced treatment which to me equates to no more than disguised jail time. It still keeps their paid DEA thugs in buisness, and puts a prettier face on the failed war on drugs. Whatever it takes to still make money without offering liberties in return.
Whatever states do, I don't see growing becoming legal sadly, harder to tax us and we know everything is about money, we are their little cash slaves.
But it hasnt stopped us so far and it wont than either. I just get sick to my stomache every time I hear of someone getting put in prison for anything MJ related, people suffer, they profit, all in a days work for a corupt federal government.
Pretty in Pain
Active Member
Whether it be revenue from a tax, or revenue saved from prosicuting and jailing growers/tokers it would still be revenue. Just as people can make there own wine, or grow there own veggie gardens and are exempt from taxation (as far as I know, anyway) the smalltime grower would have nothing to worry about. Even taxaton on the large scale grower would be preferable to the current system provided the taxes were for state and local government only and the feds kept their greedy mitts off the $. I am a libertarian, so taxes of any sort, while I see a need for some, chafe at me. To reiterate, though, even taxation by a greedy fed would be preferable to making regular American farmers/citizens in their endeavors to pursue happiness into criminals as per the status quo.
doobnVA
Well-Known Member
Um, yeah, if you sell the products of that plant for a profit of course they are taxed.
When you buy fresh vegetables at the market, they are taxed aren't they? When you go to your local nursery and buy a pack of tomato seeds, those are taxed too.
Nobody is proposing a tax on growers who grow for personal use, but if you grow to SELL then obviously there are going to be taxes involved. The consumers pay the tax (sales tax), just like they do on anything else they buy.
Pretty in Pain
Active Member
I am seeing the tide turning, slowly but surely. People's additude toward MJ as a dangerous drug are evolving as the generation most heavily influenced by such propaganda as 'reefer maddness' ages out of politics and a more rational younger generation takes the reigns and people start asking the obvious question: Why is MJ any different/worse than alcohol or tobacco? I think the stats were that some where between 70-80% of Americans had tried MJ at one time and most are none the worse for wear (unless some stupid pro DEA psychologist convinces them they are addicted to it, which is a whole nother WTF? issue for me, but I digress) and many even benefit from it. The current situation is dispicable, though, and my heart goes out to all you growers/tokers who r just exercising your constitutional rights and suffering b/c of a corupt fed and brainwashed local law enforcement.
Pretty in Pain
Active Member
I don't know about you, but I've never had the govt come knocking at my door when I sold fresh strawberries or tomatoes to my friends and neighbors. Of course selling at a market/grocer would incur taxes, but that would be better than the way things are now.
doobnVA
Well-Known Member
There's a difference between being a retail merchant, and simply selling some stuff to friends and neighbors (under the IRS radar, which is essentially "black market" vegetable dealing, lol). IF cannabis were legal and able to be bought and sold commercially, expect it to be taxed just as any other commercial product is taxed.
If you sold enough strawberries and tomatoes to enough people, sooner or later the IRS *will* come knocking.
If you sold enough strawberries and tomatoes to enough people, sooner or later the IRS *will* come knocking.
Where Im from we don't pay tax on food items. not sure about the seeds, but i know for sure I can go hog wild with meat, dairy, fish , produce and pay nothing to the state or local gvt. Im not sure about other states though.
doobnVA
Well-Known Member
Here we pay a ridiculous amount of tax on food, in addition to the normal sales tax that's on basically everything but the american flag. There's also an added "restaurant tax" on prepared food served in a restaurant or bought at the grocery store (deli stuff like ready to eat rotisserie chicken, etc). AFAIK, even small growers who sell at farmer's markets and roadside stands are required to register a tax id number in order for the state to collect sales tax.
EDIT: Oh, and then there's the local tax. In the city where I live, eating out at a restaurant will cost you 11% of the total bill in sales tax.
EDIT: Oh, and then there's the local tax. In the city where I live, eating out at a restaurant will cost you 11% of the total bill in sales tax.
Dolce Vita
Active Member
holy shit dude, isnt 11% a bit excessive, especially for food? lets follow a tax on ur food tax on the food to feed the cow, tax on the cost to process it, tax on the energy it takes to cook it, tax on eating it. wow if there were no taxes that burger would be mad cheep
doobnVA
Well-Known Member
Yeah, 11% is seriously excessive - that's just here in this city, though. Pretty sure it's lower in most other parts of the state. The city levies its own tax in addition to the state tax.
Purplekrunchie
Well-Known Member
Some areas add a county tax as well, it really never ends.
Pretty in Pain
Active Member
The only good thing (and I'm reaching here) about local taxes is they go to (hopefully anyway) fund local rescources, whereas federal taxes get skimmed on there way to, and then back from washington. I would rather pay a local tax anyday, than a federal tax.
I can't wait for the day when the only thing a pot grower/pot buyer has to worry about is the taxes. It would sure beat the hell out of paying for bail $, lawyers, and fines. I also think the revenue from it would be more and hopefully bring some much needed money to states. In an ideal world, weed would be tax free, but for now I would just settle for legal.
I can't wait for the day when the only thing a pot grower/pot buyer has to worry about is the taxes. It would sure beat the hell out of paying for bail $, lawyers, and fines. I also think the revenue from it would be more and hopefully bring some much needed money to states. In an ideal world, weed would be tax free, but for now I would just settle for legal.
Dolce Vita
Active Member
In an ideal world, weed would be tax free, but for now I would just settle for legal.
i share that idea as well. if they do jegalise it i hope they make it legal/tax free to grow for personal use ya know? (i wish there was a clapping smiley)
Green Cross
Well-Known Member
4 hours ago:
"H.R. 5843 is sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank and co-sponsored by Texas Republican Ron Paul, among others. The bill carries a very reassuring title, too: Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults.
Over the past few years, numerous states have passed so-called "medical marijuana" laws, allowing doctors to prescribe pot to patients to treat a variety of symptoms. A total of 13 states have also passed measures decriminalizing marijuana. This new bill would expand that tolerance of the drug to include open recreational use.
Interviewed recently by Esquire about the new measure, Frank was asked why Congress is taking so long to take action that so many states have pursued. Here's his response:
So, it's clear what Barney Frank and Ron Paul think about decriminalizing marijuana, but what's your take?"
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/15/barney-frank-and-ron-paul-team-up-to-decriminalize-marijuana/
"H.R. 5843 is sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank and co-sponsored by Texas Republican Ron Paul, among others. The bill carries a very reassuring title, too: Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults.
Over the past few years, numerous states have passed so-called "medical marijuana" laws, allowing doctors to prescribe pot to patients to treat a variety of symptoms. A total of 13 states have also passed measures decriminalizing marijuana. This new bill would expand that tolerance of the drug to include open recreational use.
Interviewed recently by Esquire about the new measure, Frank was asked why Congress is taking so long to take action that so many states have pursued. Here's his response:
"This is a case where there's cultural lag on the part of my colleagues. If you ask them privately, they don't think it's a terrible thing. But they're afraid of being portrayed as soft on drugs."
Another politician who has never been accused of being afraid to express his beliefs on legalizing pot is Paul, who gave a memorable interview on the subject a few months ago. Watch it here.
So, it's clear what Barney Frank and Ron Paul think about decriminalizing marijuana, but what's your take?"
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/15/barney-frank-and-ron-paul-team-up-to-decriminalize-marijuana/