StonerGrower
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EUREKA -- Estimating that marijuana brings some $5 billion into the Mendocino County economy, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors recently sent out an impassioned letter demanding that marijuana be legalized and taxed for the benefit of local governments.
It's a request that quickly gained traction in Humboldt County through 2nd District Supervisor Roger Rodoni, who said a revolution in the thinking about marijuana laws and enforcement is long overdue.
The Mendocino County letter advocates legalization, taxation, and regulation. John Pinches, 3rd District Mendocino County supervisor and the impetus for the recent letter, said the $5 billion figure comes from an estimate made by late Mendocino County District Attorney Norm Vroman, who believed law enforcement had managed to stop only 10 percent of the marijuana being trafficked through the county.
A simple mathematical calculation used that 10 percent figure to extrapolate out an estimated total of $5 billion for the county.
If the county were to only receive 1 percent of that -- as would be the county's receipt if those totals were subject to a sales tax -- it would nearly double the county's discretionary income by adding $50 million to its coffers.
Humboldt County, with arguably the most recognizable brand name in the marijuana trade, would not be far behind.
The revenue issue doesn't even take into account the conundrum that local agencies face while trying to enforce conflicting local, state and federal laws on the drug.
"California residents exist in a a state of tug of war over the interpretation of federal, state and local law," states the letter.
The letter, addressed specifically to the North Coast's congressman, Mike Thompson, asks for help in legalizing marijuana and making it a source of revenue for local governments.
"The time has come to call upon our leaders in federal government to initiate, sponsor and support legislation that calls for the legalization, regulation and taxation of the multibillion-dollar crop," said the letter. "Local government is in dire need of identifying stable revenue streams, and through your able leadership, we are confident that a taxing mechanism can be achieved."
But Thompson said he has tried in every session of Congress since he was first elected to advance legislation to allow states to make their own rules governing medicinal marijuana, with no success.
With all the other high-profile issues looming, Thompson said he doubts marijuana legalization is going to be at the top of anyone's priority list.
"I haven't been able to even get that bill heard," said Thompson. "It's a pretty big leap of faith to think we could come back and do even more."
The first step toward legalization, Rodoni said, is to get the conversation started. Raise awareness, make noise, build pressure -- and then progress can happen, Rodoni said.
Rodoni said that when he first took office, he couldn't even bring up the subject. Now serious discussions can occur, because some progress has already been made.
As for the political realities of Washington, D.C., Rodoni said the federal government just needs to butt out and abide by the 10th Amendment.
Anything not delegated specifically to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution is under the authority of the state governments, Rodoni said, and that should include marijuana.
The contribution that marijuana makes to the local economy is huge, Rodoni said.
"It's more than significant," he said. "It's a number that needs to get into the conversation."
While attending countless meetings on economic development that describe the components of our economy, the subject never comes up, Rodoni said.
"When the conversation is all over with, there's this giant elephant standing in the corner that no one looks at," Rodoni said. "How can you take some of these people serious when they're talking about the economy of Humboldt County?"
Pinches said marijuana represents Mendocino County's biggest agricultural commodity -- bigger than timber, bigger than grapes -- and the government needs to find a way to make it work for the community as a whole.
"Whether you love marijuana or you hate marijuana, it makes no sense for it to be illegal," said Pinches. "If we continue the way we're going, all county dollars will just go for criminal justice."
The 40-year-long war on marijuana has done nothing but drive up the price of the drug, he said.
"Didn't we learn anything from prohibition?"
Newshawk: StonerGrower4 - 420Magazine.com
Source: Yahoo! Groups
Copyright: 2007 Yahoo! Inc
Website: Yahoo! Groups
It's a request that quickly gained traction in Humboldt County through 2nd District Supervisor Roger Rodoni, who said a revolution in the thinking about marijuana laws and enforcement is long overdue.
The Mendocino County letter advocates legalization, taxation, and regulation. John Pinches, 3rd District Mendocino County supervisor and the impetus for the recent letter, said the $5 billion figure comes from an estimate made by late Mendocino County District Attorney Norm Vroman, who believed law enforcement had managed to stop only 10 percent of the marijuana being trafficked through the county.
A simple mathematical calculation used that 10 percent figure to extrapolate out an estimated total of $5 billion for the county.
If the county were to only receive 1 percent of that -- as would be the county's receipt if those totals were subject to a sales tax -- it would nearly double the county's discretionary income by adding $50 million to its coffers.
Humboldt County, with arguably the most recognizable brand name in the marijuana trade, would not be far behind.
The revenue issue doesn't even take into account the conundrum that local agencies face while trying to enforce conflicting local, state and federal laws on the drug.
"California residents exist in a a state of tug of war over the interpretation of federal, state and local law," states the letter.
The letter, addressed specifically to the North Coast's congressman, Mike Thompson, asks for help in legalizing marijuana and making it a source of revenue for local governments.
"The time has come to call upon our leaders in federal government to initiate, sponsor and support legislation that calls for the legalization, regulation and taxation of the multibillion-dollar crop," said the letter. "Local government is in dire need of identifying stable revenue streams, and through your able leadership, we are confident that a taxing mechanism can be achieved."
But Thompson said he has tried in every session of Congress since he was first elected to advance legislation to allow states to make their own rules governing medicinal marijuana, with no success.
With all the other high-profile issues looming, Thompson said he doubts marijuana legalization is going to be at the top of anyone's priority list.
"I haven't been able to even get that bill heard," said Thompson. "It's a pretty big leap of faith to think we could come back and do even more."
The first step toward legalization, Rodoni said, is to get the conversation started. Raise awareness, make noise, build pressure -- and then progress can happen, Rodoni said.
Rodoni said that when he first took office, he couldn't even bring up the subject. Now serious discussions can occur, because some progress has already been made.
As for the political realities of Washington, D.C., Rodoni said the federal government just needs to butt out and abide by the 10th Amendment.
Anything not delegated specifically to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution is under the authority of the state governments, Rodoni said, and that should include marijuana.
The contribution that marijuana makes to the local economy is huge, Rodoni said.
"It's more than significant," he said. "It's a number that needs to get into the conversation."
While attending countless meetings on economic development that describe the components of our economy, the subject never comes up, Rodoni said.
"When the conversation is all over with, there's this giant elephant standing in the corner that no one looks at," Rodoni said. "How can you take some of these people serious when they're talking about the economy of Humboldt County?"
Pinches said marijuana represents Mendocino County's biggest agricultural commodity -- bigger than timber, bigger than grapes -- and the government needs to find a way to make it work for the community as a whole.
"Whether you love marijuana or you hate marijuana, it makes no sense for it to be illegal," said Pinches. "If we continue the way we're going, all county dollars will just go for criminal justice."
The 40-year-long war on marijuana has done nothing but drive up the price of the drug, he said.
"Didn't we learn anything from prohibition?"
Newshawk: StonerGrower4 - 420Magazine.com
Source: Yahoo! Groups
Copyright: 2007 Yahoo! Inc
Website: Yahoo! Groups
Smokem if ya gottem
