Marijuana Consumers Demand to Pay Taxes!
$14 billion dollar check presented to US Treasury represents "tax and regulate" boost to economy
Mon, Apr 13, 2009 5:29 pm
New York, NY: On April 15, better known as Tax Day, at 8:00 AM representatives and supporters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), including the organization's national director Allen St. Pierre, will stand on the steps of the General Post Office in Midtown Manhattan and present a check for $14 billion to the US Treasury Department.
The check total is an estimate of what American taxpayers spend every year to maintain marijuana prohibition. According to the report "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States," Americans spend some $6 billion on law enforcement costs related to enforcing marijuana laws. Taxing and regulating the production and sale of cannabis like alcohol products would reduce these costs while raising an estimated $8 billion in new tax revenue. That's according to Nobel Prize Winner Milton Friedman and over 500 other accredited economists.
"On a day when so many Americans lament having to pay state and federal income taxes, we're representing America's millions of otherwise law-abiding cannabis consumers—as well as supportive non-consumers—who're ready, willing, vocal and able to contribute this huge sum to our struggling economy, while providing truly 'green' jobs and allowing police to focus on more important priorities," says Allen St. Pierre, NORML's Executive Director. "All we ask in exchange for our $14 billion is the right to smoke our pot responsibly and in peace—just in the same way as the millions of daily consumers of alcohol products in our country."
WHO
Representatives of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, including NORML's national director Allen St. Pierre
WHAT
American cannabis consumers and anti-prohibitionists present a $14 billion check to the US Treasury.
WHEN
April 15th, 2009 at 8:00 AM (press conference with mock check) and 4:20 PM presentation of check with NORML supporters.
WHERE
The steps of the General Post Office in Manhattan
441 Eighth Ave
New York, NY
CONTACT FOR INTERVIEWS:
Allen St. Pierre, NORML, 202-483-5500, media@norml.org
Ruth Liebesman-Martinuk, Esq., NY NORML, 212-804-5740, NewYorkNorml@aol.com
David Bienenstock, author of The Official HIGH TIMES Pot Smoker's Handbook and a senior editor at the magazine, 212-387-0500
References regarding the economics of cannabis legalization:
http://www.canorml.org/background/CA_legalization2.html
http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr4/exec_summ.html
http://www.cantaxreg.com (See: Revenue Potential and Economic Analysis, and Background Materials.










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treehugger
Jul 4 2009, 7:55 pm
Can't let that slide, not on the 4th!
treehugger
May 9 2009, 8:21 pm
Gypsy
May 2 2009, 2:15 pm
jackrabbit420
Apr 30 2009, 8:18 pm
Smokin Not Jokin
Apr 24 2009, 6:22 pm
When more people support legalization of Marijuana then the stimulus packet...
When people are not getting the proper care they need or dying or in jail because of prohibition...
Legalize it!
kottomouth
Apr 21 2009, 6:55 pm
Legalize and Sell it
Apr 21 2009, 12:07 pm
Further more, I want to say this.
When you pay your phone bill you pay a tax, when you renew your drivers license you pay a tax, when you register your car you pay a tax, tolls are taxes, property taxes, hunting taxes, fishing taxes, foraging taxes, state income tax, dog license tax, Sales Tax, Tobacco Tax, Liquor Tax, gasoline tax, federal income tax, lots of other taxes.
And then all the stoners have this idea of legalizing and taxing Marijuana. Hello!!! we already pay a gazillion taxes, I think we need something we can sell to pay these taxes, and not pay another tax. Legalize and Tax it must be an Illuminati plot. HighTimes has been rumored to be part of the conspiracy and I think the Legalize and Tax it movement is part of the Rockefellers secret plan. All the hippies will be duped into paying yet another tax, while all the regular smokers will be pissed as all hell at the hippies for their gay obama government love fest.
Taxes suck!!!
Apr 21 2009, 11:54 am
Legalize and sell it. If the person selling spends the money on tolls, or a license renewal then good. When the person spends the profits on property tax, or sales tax that is good. Why in the fuck should the grower or purchaser pay a tax on top of all the other taxes that are already present in society?
Please stop smoking for one minute and realize that Legalize and Tax it is a horrible idea and is probably a creation of the big banks and the Rockefeller foundation.
underground star
Apr 20 2009, 1:45 pm
Say
Apr 20 2009, 1:06 pm
if you know who it is do something
oh wait a minite you must be Italian
anonymous
Apr 18 2009, 7:42 pm
W T F
Apr 18 2009, 1:42 pm
70's
Apr 17 2009, 2:12 pm
3/4 baked
Apr 17 2009, 12:47 am
anonymous
Apr 16 2009, 5:46 pm
DAUC
Apr 16 2009, 5:13 pm
THE WORLD
Apr 16 2009, 5:13 pm
D
Apr 16 2009, 3:35 pm
MOHAWK
Apr 16 2009, 2:42 pm
DO NOT SUPPORT A TERRORISTS LIKE KINGHAVEN FARMS AND WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Mary Wanna
Apr 16 2009, 6:38 am
Jesse James
Apr 16 2009, 1:16 am
HU210
Apr 16 2009, 1:05 am
However, hemp a very valuable product to the king. Possibly traded for said tea. Would have been a better choice to throw into the harbor-eh? Take back an empty ship for payment. Now that would upset a king, I would think.
Just a thought.
pete
Apr 15 2009, 4:22 pm
gstlab3
Apr 15 2009, 3:58 pm
anonymous
Apr 15 2009, 3:28 pm
Supporter
Apr 15 2009, 2:41 pm
Supporter
Apr 15 2009, 2:37 pm
I guess Cannibas users can hold down a job.
Supporter
Apr 15 2009, 2:33 pm
If their wasn’t such the unfair stigma about the use of marijuana, I believe that this ” grassroots ” movement would be more like the ACLU or NRA.
Im sure the risk of having a random drug test at work is much less for some then others who go on national television.
Just as representatives & senators might hide their true feelings about Marijuana whether it is becuase of contributions from Big Lobby organizations like tobacco etc.. or just out of fear from not being re-elected from their christian base or who ever they feel is against the legalization of marijuana and is for them because of their prohibition stand.. American Citizens hide the fact that they support NORML for fear of their job and stigma, unfair or not.
HU210
Apr 15 2009, 11:17 am
Ask not what NORML can do for you. But what can you do to assist NORML and thus ourselves, to get weed legal.
No representation, NO TAXATION!!!
danko
Apr 15 2009, 9:29 am
Supporter
Apr 15 2009, 8:11 am
NORML needs to be more aggressive or savy when it wants covered by the main stream media for these kinds of events...
The ridiculous Tea Party fiasco has recieved more attention! It has overshadowed a more serious subject matter to the issue of taxes.
NORML needs to start demonstrating at these Tea Party activities and other forums like these to get the media attention.
reefer
Apr 15 2009, 7:06 am
j2o Reefer madness
Jesse james
Apr 15 2009, 12:31 am
HU210
Apr 14 2009, 11:33 pm
The Government can generate plenty of revenue from industrial hemp.
They need to stay out of the euphoric cannibis business.
Why allow the Government something else to screw up?
anti hate/ anti jihad/ anti nazi
Apr 14 2009, 9:22 pm
----------------------------------------------------------
Rally for Israel and Against Durban II -- the UN's Hitlerian jihad-enabling conference
From Shalom International: Rally for Israel and Against Durban II:
Remember the Holocaust and Protest Against the Jew Haters/Israel Haters at “Durban II” (UNazis) who want to finish what Hitler started.
Join Shalom International at “Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.”
When & Where:
IN NEW YORK CITY:
April 19, 2 p.m. across from the UN at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 47th Street and First Avenue.
Contact: Bruce S. Ticker - 215-563-8553 or Bticker@comcast.net
April 20, at Noon, at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, sponsored by Stand With Us.
Contact: Avi Posnick - 212-398-2524
IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND:
April 20 in the late afternoon (we join others)
April 21 at 12 - 2 p.m., sponsored by Shalom Int’l.
April 22 at 5 to 7 p.m. for the “Support Israel Rally” (we join with other groups)
Palaise de Nacions, Geneva, Switzerland
Remember the Holocaust when 6 million Jews and 5 million others were slaughtered by those with the same mentality as those cowards pushing Durban II.
REMEMBER: FROM HITLER TO HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, SAUDI ARABIA, SYRIA AND IRAN, ETC., THE HOLOCAUST CONTINUES.
Contact: Bob Kunst, President, Shalom International,
Miami Beach, FL: 305-864-5110 DefendJerusalem@mindspring.com, www.DefendJerusalem.net
tax payer
Apr 14 2009, 7:46 pm
GROW YOUR OWN
Apr 14 2009, 5:41 pm
if they go that high,even with quality weed,the cartels will be business as usual. Since the biggest part of their money comes from selling swag now,they will just continue on.
And I know that some people out there will scream because they
think it's dank or nothing,but thats not the real world. Thats a yuppie,more dollars than sense world and the majority of the
country doesn't make that kind of money.
TopStoner
Apr 14 2009, 5:16 pm
Infowars.com
Infowars.com
tax payer
Apr 14 2009, 2:49 pm
Not to mention when other countrys see the progress we make they would be stupid to not follow with thier own legalization..Then we can truly be the LAND OF THE FREE..cause we are already BRAVE...we all need to keep it up we arew making progress here I think we can all feel it we r closer to legalization now then we have ever been in my lifetime anyways and u watch if obama dont save us in a year or 2 with his plan then what else is there 2 try?we r gunna be all on the streets by then then we can all just spark up and say told u so then the law aint gunna matter and we can all just do whatever we fucking want anyways enough babbling on I could go on and on but its the congressmen and senators that need to hear it so contact your local norml and help out join the Good fight
danko
Apr 14 2009, 1:33 pm
Do any of you have friends in jail for growing pot? Or know someone who desperately needs it to survive? Or someone who's had their kids take away? Stop being selfish and join the fight.
danko
Apr 14 2009, 1:25 pm
Do any of you have friends in jail for growing pot? Or know someone who desperately needs it to survive? Or someone who's had their kids take away? Stop being selfish and join the fight.
dro
Apr 14 2009, 1:22 pm
You Tube "The Obama Deception"
You Tube "The Obama Deception"
You Tube "The Obama Deception"
You Tube "The Obama Deception"
You Tube "The Obama Deception"
brilloeman
Apr 14 2009, 1:03 pm
Toronto is the radiation state
Apr 14 2009, 12:55 pm
All your "REPRESENTATIVES" in Toronto are nothing but propaganders and nothing else.
All the problems in the world all start in Toronto
SAY NO!
Apr 14 2009, 12:37 pm
E
Apr 14 2009, 12:34 pm
ITS CANADA WITH WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT WHO ARE SUPPORTING ALL THE RADIATION IN CANADA AND THE WORLD. WOODBINE IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THEY SPEND EVERY PROFIT DOLLAR.
NEDA
Apr 14 2009, 11:46 am
Supreme Thought
Apr 14 2009, 11:44 am
from global warming
seriously, think about it
yea and im zeus
Apr 14 2009, 5:39 am
gstlab3
Apr 14 2009, 1:45 am
gstlab3
Apr 14 2009, 1:42 am
gstlab3
Apr 14 2009, 1:31 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sus
Apr 14 2009, 1:10 am
gdzzle,Sa,tx
Apr 14 2009, 12:17 am
umm
Apr 14 2009, 12:16 am
♥
umm
Apr 14 2009, 12:13 am
Britains Got Talent 2009 Susan Boyle 47 Year Old Singer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-KiGva9dV4
What a talented beautiful person she is. A special moment, that shows the good side of even Simon!
HU210
Apr 13 2009, 11:31 pm
jesus hates u.s. government
Apr 13 2009, 11:01 pm
HU210
Apr 13 2009, 11:01 pm
send it
Apr 13 2009, 9:34 pm
about it made too much sense for the government too get involved.
hey
Apr 13 2009, 8:43 pm
When will the government stop wasting our tax dollars aresting non-violent cannabis consumers, and lock of the violent folk? When they run out of money? "snicker"
Green Hit
Apr 13 2009, 8:37 pm
karma smoke
Apr 13 2009, 8:30 pm
umm
Apr 13 2009, 8:08 pm
It's 4:20 Somewhere
Apr 13 2009, 5:35 pm
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