California - Legislation is in the works at the state capitol that would dramatically change how marijuana is regulated in the state and bring in a good chunk of cash to California's beleaguered state budget.
It has not been introduced yet, but the plan would require everyone involved in the marijuana industry in the state, from growers to distributors to retailers, to register with the state and pay a licensing fee. Marijuana would also be subject to an excise tax, perhaps up to 41 percent, along with other taxes.
Just to help with the score keeping, this is not the proposal to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana, the Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, bill that died a legislative timeline death last month but that should be reintroduced in the next several days.
The latest proposal is being pushed by Board of Equalization member Jerome Horton and to be introduced by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello (Los Angeles County). Horton sponsored tobacco regulation in 2003 to control illegal sales of cigarettes and wants that model applied to marijuana.
In a released statement, Calderon said the proposal would not legalize sale of marijuana beyond the medical dispensaries, "But it will better control legal distribution and help law enforcement crack down on illegal sales," he said. In other words, law enforcement would be able to track the supply of marijuana and know if cannabis is being diverted from medical dispensaries for illegal sale.
It also would ensure that all dispensaries are paying their share of sales taxes to the state. If the industry is brought under compliance, Calderon said it could bring in $1.8 billion a year to the state. We'll dive deeper into the proposal once it is introduced, so stay tuned.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: SFGate
Author: Wyatt Buchanan
Contact: SFGate
Copyright: 2010 Hearst Communications Inc.
Website:SFGate: Politics Blog : Marijuana could face strict regulation, big taxes
It has not been introduced yet, but the plan would require everyone involved in the marijuana industry in the state, from growers to distributors to retailers, to register with the state and pay a licensing fee. Marijuana would also be subject to an excise tax, perhaps up to 41 percent, along with other taxes.
Just to help with the score keeping, this is not the proposal to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana, the Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, bill that died a legislative timeline death last month but that should be reintroduced in the next several days.
The latest proposal is being pushed by Board of Equalization member Jerome Horton and to be introduced by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello (Los Angeles County). Horton sponsored tobacco regulation in 2003 to control illegal sales of cigarettes and wants that model applied to marijuana.
In a released statement, Calderon said the proposal would not legalize sale of marijuana beyond the medical dispensaries, "But it will better control legal distribution and help law enforcement crack down on illegal sales," he said. In other words, law enforcement would be able to track the supply of marijuana and know if cannabis is being diverted from medical dispensaries for illegal sale.
It also would ensure that all dispensaries are paying their share of sales taxes to the state. If the industry is brought under compliance, Calderon said it could bring in $1.8 billion a year to the state. We'll dive deeper into the proposal once it is introduced, so stay tuned.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: SFGate
Author: Wyatt Buchanan
Contact: SFGate
Copyright: 2010 Hearst Communications Inc.
Website:SFGate: Politics Blog : Marijuana could face strict regulation, big taxes
