Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Arizona voters will be getting a chance this fall to take another swing at the "medical marijuana" issue. The idea has been approved in the past by a majority of state voters, but federal intimidation and threats to take away doctors' prescription authority have nullified the decision.
The new initiative uses a model established in California that avoids the prescription issue by replacing it with a "certification" program which doctors could use to give marijuana to patients.
California's medical marijuana program has been widely implemented in that state, but remains controversial. Some doubt there is a real medical need from some of the "patients."
Nevertheless there seems to be a growing consensus that there are medical benefits to using marijuana, at least for some patients such as cancer patients who are experiencing nausea.
Whether state voters will go along with the idea again is a question mark at this point. But State Sen. Jorge Garcia, D-Tucson, who says he supports the marijuana initiative, wants to make sure the state gets its cut if it is approved. His has sponsored legislation (SB 1222) to ensure the state sales tax of 5.6 percent would be collected on medical marijuana.
Garcia and some other lawmakers see this as a healthy tax revenue builder for the state.
The problem is that the initiative is being promoted as a medical issue - patients need marijuana to treat illness, like other medications they would be prescribed by a doctor. But prescriptions are exempt from sales tax.
Technically, of course, these won't be "prescriptions" but rather "certifications."
Still the intent is similar, so why should patients get zapped for sales tax on medical marijuana if they aren't taxed on other medications?
The answer is there doesn't seem to be a logical reason, at least based on the medical justification.
Supporters of the tax ought to be asked: Is this medicine or not? After all, even more revenue could be raised by taxing all prescription medicines.
NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: yumasun.com
Copyright: 2010 Freedom Communications, Inc.
Contact: : YumaSun
Website: Why single out medical 'pot' for sales tax | medical, marijuana, state - Opinion - YumaSun
The new initiative uses a model established in California that avoids the prescription issue by replacing it with a "certification" program which doctors could use to give marijuana to patients.
California's medical marijuana program has been widely implemented in that state, but remains controversial. Some doubt there is a real medical need from some of the "patients."
Nevertheless there seems to be a growing consensus that there are medical benefits to using marijuana, at least for some patients such as cancer patients who are experiencing nausea.
Whether state voters will go along with the idea again is a question mark at this point. But State Sen. Jorge Garcia, D-Tucson, who says he supports the marijuana initiative, wants to make sure the state gets its cut if it is approved. His has sponsored legislation (SB 1222) to ensure the state sales tax of 5.6 percent would be collected on medical marijuana.
Garcia and some other lawmakers see this as a healthy tax revenue builder for the state.
The problem is that the initiative is being promoted as a medical issue - patients need marijuana to treat illness, like other medications they would be prescribed by a doctor. But prescriptions are exempt from sales tax.
Technically, of course, these won't be "prescriptions" but rather "certifications."
Still the intent is similar, so why should patients get zapped for sales tax on medical marijuana if they aren't taxed on other medications?
The answer is there doesn't seem to be a logical reason, at least based on the medical justification.
Supporters of the tax ought to be asked: Is this medicine or not? After all, even more revenue could be raised by taxing all prescription medicines.
NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: yumasun.com
Copyright: 2010 Freedom Communications, Inc.
Contact: : YumaSun
Website: Why single out medical 'pot' for sales tax | medical, marijuana, state - Opinion - YumaSun
