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Ganjika
The Hippie
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MA : Marijuana Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. **
#11184144 - 10/04/09 11:05 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts 3/27/09|StoptheDrugWar.org| from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #578 Source
And then there were two. Last month, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) introduced the first marijuana legalization bill in state history. Now, on the other side of the country, Massachusetts lawmakers are joining in the action.
Fulfilling a citizen petition, Massachusetts Rep. Ellen Story (D-Amherst) has filed House Bill 2929 and Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Northampton) has filed a companion measure, Senate Bill 1801, in the upper chamber. The citizen seeking the bills is Richard Evans, a former board member of StoptheDrugWar.org (DRCNet -- publisher of this newsletter) and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
The proposals would "tax and regulate" the state's marijuana industry, with the tax assessed varying according to the potency of the pot. Class C schwag would be taxed at $150 an ounce, Class B smoke would be taxed at $200, and Class A kind bud would fetch $250 an ounce for the state. The taxes could raise nearly $100 million in revenue for the cash-strapped Bay State.
But the proposals also allow for tax-free personal home grows and "gratuitous distribution" to other adults. All commercial grows, importation, processing, and sales would be licensed by a new bureaucratic entity, the Cannabis Control Authority.
"Decades of whispered grumblings about the wisdom and efficacy of prohibition is rapidly giving way to a serious -- really serious public discussion about how to replace it," said Evans, who assisted in drafting the landmark legislation. "Those who consider themselves leaders in government and the media have the obligation to either show how prohibition can be made to work, or join in the exploration of alternatives."
Last November, Massachusetts voters approved marijuana decriminalization with 65% of the vote. Now, their legislators have the opportunity to see if they can advance to the Bay State vanguard by voting for outright legalization. From the Pacific to the Atlantic, let the pincer movement begin.
-------------------- "Marijuana is Only Addictive In The Sense That All Good Things In Life Are Worth Repeating..."
Edited by Ganjika (10/04/09 11:34 PM)
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Lloydbraun89
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Ganjika]
#11184205 - 10/04/09 11:21 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Anyone know if this is likely to be passed?
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cake is a lie
pwner with a bwner
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Lloydbraun89]
#11184262 - 10/04/09 11:39 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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i don't think it has a shot in hell based souly on the fact that they know they will make no money on weed because that tax is so retarded.
if the tax wasn't retarded idk. i bet they could get enough signatures but ive no idea how the rest would go down.
-------------------- The Voice: It is the Broodwich, forged in darkness from wheat harvested in Hell's half-acre, baked by Beelzebub, slathered with mayonnaise beaten from the evil eggs of dark chicken forced into sauce by the hands of a one-eyed madman, cheese boiled from the rancid teat of a fanged cow, layered with six-hundred and sixty-six separate meats from an animal which has maggots for blood! Frylock: [long pause] See... told ya. Master Shake: I tasted mustard. The Voice: Yeah... DIJON mustard!
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Ganjika
The Hippie
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Lloydbraun89]
#11184267 - 10/04/09 11:40 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Lloydbraun89 said: Anyone know if this is likely to be passed?
A few thoughts from people on another forum that i would love to share.
1.
"The problem with that approach is that, if the first state to legalize blows it, as this would, then everyone will be able to point to it and say that legalization doesn't prevent the black market from continuing to operate just as it does today.
The black market could easily undercut those prices and still turn a big profit. People will go for the best price, especially if possession is legal."
2.
I think that they are setting it so high that when they eventually lower them, that lowered tax will still be A LOT. I don't believe that they will keep them that high for too long, but I could be wrong.
I can definitly see where both sides are coming from - tho i do agree that something must be done -
if it passed, it would for sure take everyone in the cannabis community to speak out and make sure all of the general public understands that if the black market is still proliferating that its becuase the high taxes and can be fixed easily by bringing them down to at least enough to where buying through the black market wouldn't be as profitable or worth it.
(at least where black market prices are today.)
3.
The main thing is that you're no longer a criminal for using cannabis.
-------------------- "Marijuana is Only Addictive In The Sense That All Good Things In Life Are Worth Repeating..."
Edited by Ganjika (10/04/09 11:43 PM)
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mofo
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Loc: Donkey Kong Kill Screen
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Ganjika]
#11184284 - 10/04/09 11:45 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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yeah, that tax is outrageous. They have some nerve. I would probably vote no on that one if it were on the ballot.
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Dug a Sprogie
eeeeee
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Posts: 960
Loc: California
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: mofo]
#11184295 - 10/04/09 11:48 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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I agree. 150$ for an ounce is going against the whole idea of legalizing Cannabis. This medicine should be affordable and everyone should be informed of the safe methods of consumption first.
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pwnasaurus
Stranger
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Dug a Sprogie]
#11184376 - 10/05/09 12:10 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Maybe $150 on the best stuff - that's still ridiculous, but at least getting towards reasonable. At $250 - I can get amazing shit for $250; I would never pay $250 PLUS the price of the weed. That's unreal.
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mofo
Hobby Jingoist
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Loc: Donkey Kong Kill Screen
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: pwnasaurus]
#11184392 - 10/05/09 12:15 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Well, I'm sure the price of the weed itself would go way down in a legal system, so probably what would happen is the consumer would wind up paying about the same price as he or she is on the current black market. But still, weed in a legal market should be way cheaper than in a black market.
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Lloydbraun89
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: mofo]
#11184433 - 10/05/09 12:28 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Perhaps it has such a high tax in order to help it pass more easily. People, politicians especially, are always eyeing the $$$$. It would have to come down in order to have some effect on the black market.
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dondoodle
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Lloydbraun89]
#11184523 - 10/05/09 12:52 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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This actually sounds pretty damn good. Let the commercial spots be regulated out of business and the home grows flourish. If the legal age is 18 or younger these could be great bills.
-------------------- End American imperialism and colonization around the world and among the people conquered within the domestic empire.
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pasucks
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: dondoodle]
#11185062 - 10/05/09 04:54 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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$650 for an OZ of nug's after tax.
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bumpn
jesus juice
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: pasucks]
#11185300 - 10/05/09 06:59 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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yep a good oz of true hydro is $200 with no tax MA is getting greedy no surprise tho greed is our gov
-------------------- [if u have PB print PM ME] {-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------}
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downlowfunk
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: bumpn]
#11186356 - 10/05/09 11:35 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Better Idea.
Repeal Drug Laws. Grow Sell Spend. Taxes are for shoppers, restaurant patrons, land owners, electricity users, phone users, motor vehicle drivers, cigarette purchasers, alcohol purchasers, legal documented workers in the USA, and a whole list of other people and activity partakers.
See... The grower already pays taxes, and the seller already pays taxes too. So why another tax? All this legalize and tax it talk is just part of the big bankers (The Illuminati) plan to continue their monopoly on the poor, and unfortunate.
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TacticalBongRip
Curious Observer
Registered: 08/20/05
Posts: 527
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: downlowfunk]
#11186648 - 10/05/09 12:20 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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You made sense until you turned it into an Illuminati conspiracy.
On the front lines of bringing about change in the laws you've got to make compromises, and a total repeal of the drug laws, while making total sense, is probably a bit too forward thinking at the moment to get majority support. A big fat tax on weed, is probably enough to pull in the majority plus with the ability to grow your own or find someone who grows their own is the real silver lining.
Voting against this is like saying 'naaah man fuck that i'd rather go to jail'.
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gornyhuy
A Myth Intrepidly Met
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: TacticalBongRip]
#11186779 - 10/05/09 12:41 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Would it be legal to grow your own under these laws, or would it only be attainable from a taxed state run dispensary?
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downlowfunk
Retired Festival Veteran
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: TacticalBongRip]
#11186965 - 10/05/09 01:07 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Just because you do not like the Illuminati doesn't mean they are not real, or they do not control ideas such as
Obama Bush Most Wars Phish, Grateful Dead, WoodStock Madison Avenue Legalize Marijuana and Tax Cap and trade This Website the WWW in general Alex Jones TARP The War on Drugs MADD Cocaines high prices Police Unions Big BAnks San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Toykyo, London, Amsterdam, Etc. McDonalds, KFC, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Burger King Etc. Etc. Etc.
Pretty much everything is under control, and it always leads back to a supposed Illuminati Agent. Go ahead argue logic, and common sense all you want. You know deep down it is always them and they are in control.
Edited by downlowfunk (10/05/09 01:13 PM)
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Ojom
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: downlowfunk]
#11187084 - 10/05/09 01:29 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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This thread should be closed. The original news article was from March of this year.
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kydelic
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Ojom]
#11188011 - 10/05/09 04:11 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
I agree. 150$ for an ounce is going against the whole idea of legalizing Cannabis. This medicine should be affordable and everyone should be informed of the safe methods of consumption first.
Quote:
Would it be legal to grow your own under these laws, or would it only be attainable from a taxed state run dispensary?
Did you guys even read the article?
Quote:
But the proposals also allow for tax-free personal home grows and "gratuitous distribution" to other adults. All commercial grows, importation, processing, and sales would be licensed by a new bureaucratic entity, the Cannabis Control Authority.
-------------------- http://flickr.com/photos/mycography - A collection of my fungal photography
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Wronguy
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Re: MA : Marijuana: Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: dondoodle]
#11188135 - 10/05/09 04:30 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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This news article has already been covered in detail in the following threads:
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/10029069#10029069 http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/8262233#8262233
Please confine your posts to "current" news only. Thank you.
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Wronguy
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Re: MA : Marijuana Legalization Bill Introduced in Massachusetts. ** [Re: Ganjika]
#11188143 - 10/05/09 04:31 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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This thread has been closed.
Reason: This article/issue has already been covered in this forum in previous threads.
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