Think about the money.
Yes, it's time for our elected leaders here in Massachusetts to apply a little consistency to their deliberations on what we used to call moral issues. What business does anybody have imposing their moral values on anyone else anyway? That's so 1950s.
The only thing that really matters is how much revenue the things we used to call vices will generate to let government provide critical services and avoid devastating cuts.
We've done it with gambling. So why not bring on a new, tax-generating agricultural industry – pot. Don't think about morality. Don't think about addiction. Think about the money.
Actually, it looks like the pot lobby has finally figured out that this is a much more seductive argument to make to the Legislature. Never mind trying to convince them it's less dangerous than alcohol or that a big portion of the population is using it without any severe ill effects on their productivity or civic engagement. This past week they were urging lawmakers to think about the money – especially amid an economic crisis like this. As one of the president's chief advisers said, you should never waste a good crisis.
Indeed, why not just apply the historical progression of our views of gambling to marijuana, without wading through two or three decades of debate? Used to be, you know, that gambling was considered a vice. Government tried to stamp it out. The cops – the clean ones, anyway – fought the mob to keep all that sleazy, slimy corruption from all but the underbelly of society. It wasn't done in polite society. It was immoral.
Not anymore. Now there are glittering "gaming" palaces that feature the best in entertainment and accommodations. There are ads plastered all over TV, showing the attractive young couple stripping off their tired, frustrated selves for a fantastic weekend of eating, drinking and losing lots of money.
And it's not just Las Vegas, Atlantic City or the Native American casinos, of course. Now, government is the biggest promoter of gambling. The state of Massachusetts is the state's biggest bookie. The state Lottery gives us new games all the time, to make it more fun and more interesting. They take pictures of people who won millions of bucks, to make us think we can too. They urge us to gamble. It's the right thing to do.
Now, casinos in Massachusetts are pretty much a foregone conclusion. Well-spoken men and women in expensive suits (we call them "stakeholders," not lobbyists, when we like what they're lobbying for) are welcome at the Statehouse. The governor, the Senate president and the House speaker are all in favor. The Merrimack Valley's own state Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, is the designated point man for developing casino legislation that could come to a vote by January.
All because of the money.
Yeah, sure there are "social costs" associated with gaming. Minor things like elders who supposedly can't afford their food or medications riding the bus down to Connecticut for a day of feeding their precious money to slot machines. Destroyed families, lost savings, corruption, organized crime. But don't think about that. Think about the millions it brings to government, providing the services you want, all without raising tax ... uh, well, never mind that last point.
So, back to pot. What's the downside? There is a bill before the Legislature right now that would legalize the possession and use of marijuana, and allow people to sell it with a license. The suggested tax take would range from $150 to $250 per ounce, and a license would cost $2,000 a year. Some advocates contend it will bring in $100 million a year.
Ka-ching.
Richard Evans, a Northampton attorney, told members of the Revenue Committee that the regulated and taxed sale of marijuana could help the state's economy, not to mention the state budget. He added, as if committee members didn't know, that pot is "inextricably embedded in our culture."
One rep marveled that a group of people was before a legislative committee promoting taxes. How cool was that?
Sure, there were some nattering nabobs of negativism (thank you, William Safire) who contended that pot is a dangerous drug that can cause impaired driving. But it's still going to be illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, including that legal one, alcohol.
And then there was Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley, who asked why would the Legislature want to, "put another monkey on society's back? There is no public health or public safety benefit."
Wrong, wrong, so wrong. The taxes from pot could pay for more cops, more firefighters, more health clinics.
Besides, don't think about monkeys on people's backs. We got over it with gambling. Think about the money. That's all that matters.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Eagle Tribune
Author: Taylor Armerding
Contact: Home - EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Copyright: Associated Press content © 2009
Website:Column: Treat pot like gambling, all that matters is the money - EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Yes, it's time for our elected leaders here in Massachusetts to apply a little consistency to their deliberations on what we used to call moral issues. What business does anybody have imposing their moral values on anyone else anyway? That's so 1950s.
The only thing that really matters is how much revenue the things we used to call vices will generate to let government provide critical services and avoid devastating cuts.
We've done it with gambling. So why not bring on a new, tax-generating agricultural industry – pot. Don't think about morality. Don't think about addiction. Think about the money.
Actually, it looks like the pot lobby has finally figured out that this is a much more seductive argument to make to the Legislature. Never mind trying to convince them it's less dangerous than alcohol or that a big portion of the population is using it without any severe ill effects on their productivity or civic engagement. This past week they were urging lawmakers to think about the money – especially amid an economic crisis like this. As one of the president's chief advisers said, you should never waste a good crisis.
Indeed, why not just apply the historical progression of our views of gambling to marijuana, without wading through two or three decades of debate? Used to be, you know, that gambling was considered a vice. Government tried to stamp it out. The cops – the clean ones, anyway – fought the mob to keep all that sleazy, slimy corruption from all but the underbelly of society. It wasn't done in polite society. It was immoral.
Not anymore. Now there are glittering "gaming" palaces that feature the best in entertainment and accommodations. There are ads plastered all over TV, showing the attractive young couple stripping off their tired, frustrated selves for a fantastic weekend of eating, drinking and losing lots of money.
And it's not just Las Vegas, Atlantic City or the Native American casinos, of course. Now, government is the biggest promoter of gambling. The state of Massachusetts is the state's biggest bookie. The state Lottery gives us new games all the time, to make it more fun and more interesting. They take pictures of people who won millions of bucks, to make us think we can too. They urge us to gamble. It's the right thing to do.
Now, casinos in Massachusetts are pretty much a foregone conclusion. Well-spoken men and women in expensive suits (we call them "stakeholders," not lobbyists, when we like what they're lobbying for) are welcome at the Statehouse. The governor, the Senate president and the House speaker are all in favor. The Merrimack Valley's own state Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, is the designated point man for developing casino legislation that could come to a vote by January.
All because of the money.
Yeah, sure there are "social costs" associated with gaming. Minor things like elders who supposedly can't afford their food or medications riding the bus down to Connecticut for a day of feeding their precious money to slot machines. Destroyed families, lost savings, corruption, organized crime. But don't think about that. Think about the millions it brings to government, providing the services you want, all without raising tax ... uh, well, never mind that last point.
So, back to pot. What's the downside? There is a bill before the Legislature right now that would legalize the possession and use of marijuana, and allow people to sell it with a license. The suggested tax take would range from $150 to $250 per ounce, and a license would cost $2,000 a year. Some advocates contend it will bring in $100 million a year.
Ka-ching.
Richard Evans, a Northampton attorney, told members of the Revenue Committee that the regulated and taxed sale of marijuana could help the state's economy, not to mention the state budget. He added, as if committee members didn't know, that pot is "inextricably embedded in our culture."
One rep marveled that a group of people was before a legislative committee promoting taxes. How cool was that?
Sure, there were some nattering nabobs of negativism (thank you, William Safire) who contended that pot is a dangerous drug that can cause impaired driving. But it's still going to be illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, including that legal one, alcohol.
And then there was Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley, who asked why would the Legislature want to, "put another monkey on society's back? There is no public health or public safety benefit."
Wrong, wrong, so wrong. The taxes from pot could pay for more cops, more firefighters, more health clinics.
Besides, don't think about monkeys on people's backs. We got over it with gambling. Think about the money. That's all that matters.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Eagle Tribune
Author: Taylor Armerding
Contact: Home - EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Copyright: Associated Press content © 2009
Website:Column: Treat pot like gambling, all that matters is the money - EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
