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NORML Breaking News: California Assemblyman Introduces Legislation To Tax And Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol

Mon, Feb 23, 2009 2:55 pm

more: headline news, activism news, drug policy news, california, tax

Speaking at a landmark press conference today, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) introduced comprehensive legislation to tax and regulate the commercial production and sale of cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol.

“With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense. This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes”, Assemblyman Ammiano said. “California has the opportunity to be the first state in the nation to enact a smart, responsible public policy for the control and regulation of marijuana.”

The proposal is the first marijuana legalization bill ever introduced in California.

“It’s time for California taxpayers to stop wasting money trying to enforce marijuana prohibition, and to realize the tax benefits from a legal, regulated market instead,” said Dale Gieringer, director of California NORML, a sponsor of the bill.

As introduced, Ammiano’s measure would allow for the licensed production and sale of cannabis to consumers age 21 and over. Licensed cultivators would pay an excise tax of $50 per ounce of cannabis. In addition, the proposal would impose a sales tax on commercial sales. (Ammiano’s proposal would not affect the state’s medical marijuana law, allowing patients and caregivers to grow their own medicine.)

If enacted, the measure would raise over $1 billion per year in state revenue, according to an economic analysis by California NORML, available online here.

Ammiano’s bill comes at a time of growing public support for legalizing marijuana. A recent Zogby poll reported that nearly six in ten west coast voters support taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.

Faced with a $40 billion budget deficit, other public officials have joined in endorsing Ammiano’s bill, including San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessy and Betty Yee, a member of the State Board of Equalization, which oversees collection of sales taxes.

Currently, tens of millions of dollars are paid annually in state and local taxes by licensed distributors of medical marijuana. However, these sales only represent a fraction of the overall statewide marijuana market. “The millions of dollars raised each year on the sales of medicinal cannabis is only the tip of the iceberg,” Gieringer said. “Kudos to Assemblyman Ammiano for proposing a path-breaking bill that would benefit our economy, safety and freedom by making marijuana a winning proposition for California.”

» add a comment

ETC.

Mar 4 2009, 8:46 am

I wish everyone would quit insinuating that pot will save this nation from it's financial problems. Someone in Washington
might take you serious,and make pot smokers pay off the national debt. The only money you should have too spend for
pot is the money you spend for growing costs. And when you are free of the dealers,we will stimulate the economy with the cash we are not giving the "dealer".
STOP the BUY,GROW YOUR OWN

LB Dude

Mar 2 2009, 10:18 am

What this California bill would do is shift the flow of money...FROM the illegal drug cartels. Instead, money would flow to the LEGAL drug cartels (corporate America and government agencies).

There won't be any "Mom & Pop" growers...they won't be able to afford the cost of security and product tracking systems that will be required for LEGAALLY growing. Unless you grow you own, you will be getting what the government and corporate producers want you to have.

Will prices go down? The government and corporations already know what people are willing to pay now, so why should they price their LEGAL product any lower?

There will still be marijuana related arrests. With all the new regulations to enforce, there will still be a "NEED" for a "WAR" on drugs.

I would rather see a bill proposed by the citizens and NOT one from a politian. Lets face it, politians are not really concerned about the PEOPLE are they? Hey CA NORML how about working on one?

Well done...BUT

Mar 1 2009, 11:20 pm

Here we have just a slight problem.
The individual grower who just grows for him/her self.
Here comes the catch, it will be regulated and grown by Big Brother, which means you get what they want you have.

We have to also keep in mind the individual as well as the corperate sides.

I would say go and get an ID from your City Hall and register as a grower for personal use and pay $50.00 a month. You can only carry up to an ounce.

For the grower that is registered to sell it will have to $150.00 month and must have a barcode reader and scan each sale. You would be required to send in a report every 3 months with transactions for the tax record.

I am sure we could all live with that and with a price drop since the risk is no longer an issue.

After all, veriety is the spice of life!

anonymous

Feb 28 2009, 7:09 pm

The new Federal government, at the urging of the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, assumed the states' debt from the American Revolutionary War. In 1791 Hamilton convinced Congress to approve taxes on distilled spirits and carriages. Hamilton's principal reason for the tax was that he wanted to pay down the national debt, but he justified the tax "more as a measure of social discipline than as a source of revenue."[1] But most importantly, Hamilton "wanted the tax imposed to advance and secure the power of the new federal government." [2]

Congress designed the tax so smaller distillers would pay by the gallon, while larger distillers (who could produce in volume) could take advantage of a flat fee. The net result was to affect smaller producers more than larger ones. George Washington, the president at the time, was one such large producer of whiskey. Large producers were assessed a tax of 6 cents per gallon, while small producers were taxed at 9 cents per gallon. [1] But Western settlers were short of cash to begin with and, being far from their markets and lacking good roads, lacked any practical means to get their grain to market other than fermenting and distilling it into relatively portable distilled spirits. Additionally, whiskey was often used among western farmers as a medium of exchange or as a barter good.

The tax on whiskey was bitterly and fiercely opposed among the Cohee on the frontier from the day it was passed. Western farmers considered it to be both unfair and discriminatory, since they had traditionally converted their excess grain into liquor. Since the nature of the tax affected those who produced the whiskey but not the people who bought the whiskey, it directly affected many farmers. Many protest meetings were held, and a situation arose which was reminiscent of the opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765 before the American Revolution.

From Pennsylvania to Georgia, the western counties engaged in a campaign of harassment of the federal tax collectors. "Whiskey Boys" also made violent protests in Maryland, Virginia, and North, and South Carolina.[3]

Got to be careful with this taxing stuff. Cant just lay down and allow government to set the tax.

SEATTLE SMOKE

Feb 25 2009, 2:37 pm

U KNOW WHY THAT COP HAS HIS WIFES G STRING IN A BUNCH IS IF THEY LEGALIZE MARIJUANA THEN MOST COPS WILL BE EATIN MORE DONUTS CAUSE THEY CANT BUST PEOPLE FOR SMOKIN DOWN THE ROAD OR HAVIN POUNDS OF AWSOME BUD IN THERE CARS HERES A MARLEY SPLIFF FOR YOU COP ASS BITCH TELL UR WIFE I SAID HI

Ganja Grim

Feb 25 2009, 9:35 am

If you read it closely you would have seen the 50 dollar tax is for cultivators. Meaning, if you're growing for a distributor then you have to pay...If not, it won't cost that much!! WHOO!!! I hope this passes and the rest of the country follows suit!!

hey-mon

Feb 25 2009, 4:37 am

Check this out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafarian_vocabulary#I_words

seatte smoke

Feb 25 2009, 3:39 am

First to the M.A. cop like Ice-T said cop killer, second of all this is good news for cali shit It could give people jobs growing and learning how to grow good bud why not legalize it "people always say weed is a gate way drug" yeay right it's booze that kills more people and your body faster.Shit I wish seattle was like cali right now it would hopefully get the meth addicts into a more IRIE state heres a toke for all my weed smokin brothers and sisters stay IRIE!!!

umm

Feb 24 2009, 9:33 pm

Rast, Does freedom scare you? I see no problem with freedom. Some rasta

Rastaman420

Feb 24 2009, 7:05 pm

The only problem with legalizing it that i see is that making it like alcohol would just create a bad image because then people will start abusing it and using it the wrong way and then we will be in even more controversy over it just like the alcohol prohibition days. We are just going to see history repeat itself. They already tried to do the marijuana tax stamp act a long time ago and the government just used that as an evil trick to eradicate as many growers as possible. The requirements were that you would be able to legally grow "hemp" as long as you obtained a marijuana tax stamp but in order to get that you had to bring in finished product but when the product was brought in for inspection the grower was arrested because he did not yet have the stamp. so think about it. yes it is a god given plant with many healing properties but should it be available to abuse like alcohol by everyone then it will indefenitly create a stereotype grouping us medical users along with the non medical users giving us all a bad name.

Chronic Toker

Feb 24 2009, 5:41 pm

Wasn't going to post again, that was before I saw a post dumber than the cali guy mass cop you are first off a cop so you got picked on in high school, are uneducated, and probly an alcoholic unsatisfied with ur job do me a favor and get some validity before u make comments that make you sound like a dumbass smoke a joint sometime buddy... ill check back to see if u hav anything for me and oh yeah 3 words FUCK THE POLICE

Chronic Toker

Feb 24 2009, 5:32 pm

both of u guys actually ur the same person, your a selfish bastard u sell drugs u fuck and i hope u feel like a dumbass try putting in prison time for marijuana sometime and loosing your job, family ties, and part of your life for a plant!!! u disgust me if i saw u id beat the living shit out of you boy

skunk801

Feb 24 2009, 4:52 pm

Cali boy says
"Fuck legaliasation... tryin to put me out of a job n shit.... i hope its never legalized! thay they just protect the medical program"

Maybe you should've learned something in school then you wouldn't have to depend on being a drug dealer. At least it would've helped your spelling...

cali boy

Feb 24 2009, 4:07 pm

Fuck legaliasation... tryin to put me out of a job n shit.... i hope its never legalized! thay they just protect the medical program

enlightened man

Feb 24 2009, 2:16 pm

it is people like MA cop that hold this holy god given plant down. their closemindedness and ill founded idiologies is well over due to be brought out of the closet and into full view of what is truly going on. Drug Enforcement is a big business and we as free americans are taking it in the ass by the government as we further suffer the consiquences of their sick view on marijuana. These idiots do as they are told and wouldn't know what it means to think freely if they were shot in the leg. They are told from a young age that drugs are bad and marijuana is one of those bad drugs. They are oblivious to the fact that marijuana has so many healing effects nothing on earth compares to the positives vs the negatives of this substance. It is the only plant on earth that has gender differences it has its own spirit and god put it on earth for us to enjoy it in the proper manner. We must fight these retarded law makers and free this great plant.

Infidel

Feb 24 2009, 1:02 pm

Any change in the law is better than none at all. The fuckin' Democrats and Republicans are the very heart of the problem, not the solution at all, never have been, nor ever will be part of the solution.

Lots of excellent common sense advice on this forum. Run your life like a secret military operation and you will succeed in all endeavors what ever they may be.

WEst SiDer

Feb 24 2009, 12:08 pm

50 an oz is not even near as high as what you are being taxed now by the gangs incharge of distribution and the guys growing it to move it illegally... primo costs about 35 an o to produce therefore when you buy kush for w.e americans buy it for obviously more then the 200 for kush in bc everything on that is TAX so instead of the governments 50 you are paying the gags 175 in tax think about it.... i welcome any government leading the way to policies that will end the waste of money on enforcement and incarciration and create positive revenue especially in out current economic climate

skunk801

Feb 24 2009, 11:35 am

i think this would help decrease the overall cost of smoke, if you think about it there should be an abundance of smoke available. therefore it will be as competitive as most retail products. i do believe that at the beginning there will probably be some bumps but like anything else society should and in this case would find a way to make this work. the cost might seem a bit steep now because the underground factor clearly states; there's no such thing as a free felony. imagine if you take the crime out of the element then this would really be the largest legal cash crop avail. i live in utah and am really hoping this does pass in hopes of a trickle effect accross the nation. support this and your "green" assemblyman because it's exactly the direction most responsible smokers want to go in. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

you Suck

Feb 24 2009, 11:22 am

anonymous

Feb 23 2009, 5:12 pm
"to old grunt: 50$ an oz is better than what it is now illegal. Any upgrade is better than none man."

...i disagree because as of now there is NO formal type of tax on marijuana...as far as i know

anonymous

Feb 24 2009, 11:18 am

"Licensed cannabis growers would pay an excise tax of $50 per ounce of cannabis"

Definition of Excise - an internal tax or duty on certain commodities, as liquor or tobacco, levied on their manufacture, sale, or consumption within the country.

...TO ALL...if cannabis was legalized in california...the price of an ounce would NOT be $50...it would be $50 plus the cost of an ounce of cannabis...

Old Grunt

Feb 24 2009, 10:40 am

To "busablunt" Shut your owning fuckin mouth. Last time I checked, I was living in the USA and freedom to express my views is protected under the constitution. You got something against the constitution? You got something against my exercising my right to free speech? Or do just like shooting your mouth off being safe behind a keyboard?

As far the math wizard goes...you can't use present prices in your calculations...think about.

$50 an ounce not too high you say? If our forefathers had thought that way, there wouldn't be a USA today!

mike

Feb 24 2009, 10:19 am

the story being run on cbs 5 in san francisco should be ashamed of the same old one sided story we've been getting from our government for the last 30 years!cut through this bullshit people!legalize now and let the real adults stand up.keep the pot smoking world working, paying taxes and out of the jail system.let's start thinking of new ways to start cutting into ths monterous deficit we now must bear!you people who keep hiding behind your children on whats right and wrong start teaching them some reality! by taking control of this situation would be a start in the right direction. god bless america, land of the free and freedom of mind!!

Clay

Feb 24 2009, 10:05 am

What I look forward too is the miles and miles of pot growing in the fields where farmers have it planted because they need a new money crop,and the spin off employment of the industry will help reduce the unemployment. But the farmers with those big fields,won't be able too produce the quality of the small
grower,who lives in with his crop,and not just drives by in his pick up. And whose gonna sex a 250 acre field?

Clay

Feb 24 2009, 9:53 am

It's probably true that most of the growers,and all the green market sellers,don't want legalized pot. But they worry needlessly. People,bless their pea pickin lil hearts,are way too lazy too put out the effort to grow their own,and the greedy gov't,will try too way overcharge,so the grower and your lucky dealer,will be right back in the saddle again. They may have too lower the price too be competitive and the ones that can't produce good consistent merchandise will fall too the side. No longer will dealers be able to set the price,or be the only game in town. actually,it would make me happy too
see both hafta get a job.

Jimmy's Joint

Feb 24 2009, 6:14 am

Finally someone with some common sense has come forward with an excellent ideal so everyone can benefit from the weed issue. It's way over due, but it's never to late to make a correction.

If this would have happened 20 years ago we wouldn't be in the terrible economic situation we're in now. But someone somehow manipulated that poor excuse for a president G.W.B. into office and look at what that idiot has gotten us into. Please think people before it's too late, can we really believe that these people in public office have OUR best interest at heart? Sometimes I wonder ? ? ? ?

HU210

Feb 24 2009, 6:13 am

Congressman Ron Paul is the most conservative, grandfatherly man to ever be admired by America's marijuana enthusiasts. On Friday night's episode of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, he reminded those who may have been suffering an impaired short-term memory at that late hour why, exactly, they should like him.

Speaking live from Clute, Texas, the libertarian-leaning Republican did what few other members of Congress will and openly called for the United States' War on Drugs to be abolished.

"What about when FDR came to office in '33," asked Maher. "One of the first things he did was repeal prohibition. He said we can't afford this anymore. Well, we have prohibition in this country. ... When he was making radical changes he said look, we're serious now. We're going to make serious changes and people like liquor."

"Well, in this country, people like pot," said Maher to a wave of cheers and applause. "If we ended that prohibition, that would be a giant pooling of money."

"I don't like pot," said the congressman. "But I hate the drug war, so I would repeal all of prohibition. But, I wouldn't even bother taxing it. People have the right in a free country to make important decisions on their own lives. If they want to make mistakes, they can. They just can't come crawling to the government to get bailed out or taken care of if they get sick.

"I believe in freedom of choice in all that we do, as long as the individual never hurts anybody else. So that means I would get rid of all the federal laws. I would dispose with the drug war. We're spending tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars on this, then we march into places like California, override state law, arrest sick people and put them in prison."

"It makes no sense whatsoever," he insisted.

"Amen, stoner," joked Maher.

This video is from HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, broadcast Feb. 20, 2009.

Who all voted for Obama, raise your hand.

HU210

Feb 24 2009, 5:51 am

ALERT
RE: Cannabis and Driving
MASS COP's BullShit debunked-AGAIN!!!

For example, a 1992 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review of the role of drug use in fatal accidents reported, “There was no indication that cannabis itself was a cause of fatal crashes” among drivers who tested positive for the presence of the drug.22 A more recent assessment by Blows and colleagues noted that self-reported recent use of cannabis (within three hours of driving) was not significantly associated with car crash injury after investigators controlled for specific cofounders (e.g., seat-belt use, sleepiness, etc.)23 A 2004 observational case control study published in the journal Accident, Analysis and Prevention reported that only drivers under the influence of alcohol or benzodiazepines experience an increased crash risk compared to drug-free controls. Investigators did observe increased risks – though they were not statistically significant – among drivers using amphetamines, cocaine and opiates, but found, “No increased risk for road trauma was found for drivers exposed to cannabis.”24

Found @ NORML.org

HU210

Feb 24 2009, 5:12 am

A $50. tax per oz to grow. Then a sales tax to boot.
Greedy fuckers. That will never work. That high of a tax will only promote cannabis remaning underground.
Rather than just tax at point of sale. It looks like this bill will fund jobs for "revenuers" and most taxes collected would be consumed by administration (as are most government programs) of the new tax code.

Taxes never go down either! Californians would do well to tell their lawmakers to scrap the bill as currently written.

Zach

Feb 24 2009, 4:31 am

DO IT!!!! WITH OBAMA, anything is possible!!!!!

stoner

Feb 24 2009, 3:15 am

I doubt this will happen, even growers dont want this to happen. It will completly ruin the market for growers and medical dispensarys. There is a giant portion of the weed community that is against legalisation if anyone hasnt thought about it.....

Clay

Feb 24 2009, 2:16 am

Your not getting the point. How do you tell medical pot from
homegrown pot or green market pot? If they just legalize meds,
then I guess we are all smoking medical pot. I know I am. Thats my story,and I'm sticking too it.

wackofox

Feb 24 2009, 1:59 am

GREEDY BASTARDS,TAKE FROM THE SICK AND POOR TO FLOAT THIER SINKING SHIP WHICH THEY HAVE THOUSANDS LOCKED UP FOR.

wackofox

Feb 24 2009, 1:54 am

Wake up people $50.00 and ounce,I use up to 6-7 ounces a month for my self and my wife who uses it to cook,(making butter)that $3 to $400 a month from our disability checks.
I think a more appropiate cost might be a registration fee of $10. a plant or $50. a pound.
WAKE UP CALIFORNIA

kaneh bosom

Feb 24 2009, 1:21 am

i'm going to try my hardest to put myself into a lucid dream and ask the spirits to help humanity with this one. we need a step in the right direction. after legalization i want to see the true medicine extract used to it's fullest potential. just like rick simpson did in his town. this guy from out east in canada (represent) grew 300 or 3000 plants and made it all into the medicine (he shows you how to do this on his amazing documentary) and cured people who were terminally ill, had lung cancer, skin cancer, and other cancers and problems. i highly recommend watching the rick simpson story: run from the cure and tell the people his story! and remember the people who don't believe you when you tell them thc destroys cancers are stuck behind a wall that they believe they couldn't have been lied to, so be polite to them as you are only trying to enlighten them, not enrage them in an argument. trust me i've been through this many times but it's worth it! living sacrifice i don't give a fuck! truth till the day i die and never be held back by perception filters. oh man i just went off there i'm so high right now. best intentions peace

umm

Feb 24 2009, 1:13 am

Good news!

Meanwhile, the feds:
• U.S. to donate more than $900 million for Gaza reconstruction. Where is THIS money coming from?

Midwest Kid

Feb 24 2009, 1:05 am

Yah if cali does the right thing soon as i turn 21 im movin west. Unless Missouri grows some balls

Mokkie57

Feb 23 2009, 10:53 pm

I looked at nbc.com,abc news .com and cbsnews.com. Could not find anything on this VERY IMPORTANT subject. Guess main stream media Dose not want the word out. Mokkie57

empresshighgrade

Feb 23 2009, 10:47 pm

I can't beleive it if this passes the possibilities in cali are endless. maybe we can get the erb cafes going like amsterdam.niceness.

weird...

Feb 23 2009, 10:00 pm

my comment was deleted...

Once it comes into effect it will only be a matter of time until people start bitching..."Why can't WE, the PEOPLE grow our own product in the privacy of our OWN home?!" and "This is rediculous! The price is outrageous!"

It's only a matter of time, folks. Once it's legal we can then push for it to be cheaper. Think about it, you'll have cheap shit, i.e. miller lite and the good shit, grey goose.

wait and....

Feb 23 2009, 9:53 pm

Once it comes into effect it will only be a matter of time until people start bitching..."Why can't WE, the PEOPLE grow our own product in the privacy of our OWN home?!" and "This is rediculous! The price is outrageous!"

It's only a matter of time, folks. Once it's legal we can then push for it to be cheaper. Think about it, you'll have cheap shit, i.e. miller lite and the good shit, grey goose.

way-to-be-cali

Feb 23 2009, 9:31 pm

someone already said it I think west pa? i would move there in an instant as would probably the entire fucking bud smokin population. this better get passed, its about fucking time we had a high ranking official do something about this!

420-4-Lyfe

sweetskunk

Feb 23 2009, 9:25 pm

great idea to help with the effects of a bad economy !!
www.benefitsofmedicalmarijuana.blogspot.com

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 8:27 pm

Of course,they might get a lil suspicious when you started
using a 96 quart cooler on wheels for a lunch box.

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 8:11 pm

Inquisitive minds wanna know that kinda shit

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 8:04 pm

And after etchin buds for 30 years,would they give you a gold watch or just a Bic lighter and some zig zags?

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 8:01 pm

They probably wouldn't notice all those lil pieces of marijuana on your teeth either.

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 7:56 pm

and if the bud your working on is damaged right where your supposed too put the #,you'd hafta trash can that bud. They'd never notice your lunch pail,open, sittin next too your trash
can,would they?

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 7:50 pm

and if they do put serial #'s on the buds,thats the job I want,laser etching serial #'s on buds,What a job description on your resume.

Space Ranger Iraq and Afghan vet

Feb 23 2009, 7:42 pm

If Cali does the right thing expect a flood of people headed your way. I will be on a train headed west for sure.

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 7:38 pm

Geez,do you reckon they'll put serial #'s on every bud? How are you gonna tell if a person is smoking taxed weed or black market weed? Get a life.They can't stop us now,how will they stop us when all that legal weed is around?

Crazy Dave from Boston

Feb 23 2009, 7:30 pm

2 all the people out there concerned with this Mass Cop " Fuck Him " Don't worry about him he just another idiot that belonged with the Anslinger administration who bullshited the American people for years with his bullshit - As for Cali at least your state came up with a idea to really legalize weed and I hope the rest of the country climbs on board with this idea cause I'm sick of paying high prices to the dealers who charge a shit load for some quality bud.

dan slam an iraq vet

Feb 23 2009, 7:05 pm

oh shit!! hawai'i is frickin awsome but i think im moving back to san diego!!!!

west PA

Feb 23 2009, 6:18 pm

ur all bitchin about the tax being too high? We've all been getting fucked over for so long now on marijuana laws. Its only natural that we'd get fucked over again with this tax. There is no virtue without temptation. Were so close...patience.

luke

Feb 23 2009, 6:07 pm

*are

Baltimore Fred

Feb 23 2009, 6:06 pm

News flash Mass Cop >>> Alcohol causes mamy deaths on American highways. I don't know why we even acknowledge you, you clown; but if everybody agreed on this site it would get boring. Also we really know you're not a cop because real cops can't physically put their heads as far up their ass as you do. NOW ON POINT Go elected offical Ammino(sp?)You the man. Keep the momentum moving forward.

anonymous

Feb 23 2009, 5:57 pm

$50 an ounce??? Fuck that shit... If they do that, then they better standardize prices so that they would be lower than they are now, and then maybe tack on that $50 an ounce tax. That's an 1/8 of some kill right there.

Bustablunt

Feb 23 2009, 5:53 pm

Old Grunt! You need to shut yo fuckin mouth dog. Beggers can't be choser. Be fuckin happy about the shit you can have

to old grunt!

Feb 23 2009, 5:47 pm

Not to bust your balls but $50 an ounce aint that bad for the begining of this soon to be new era! considering anything worth smoking sells from $200 - $400 an OUNCE! so that $50 coming from your profit aint shit when u consider it only cost on AVERAGE of $400 to grow a whole POUND!! so do the math $50 x 16 ounces = $800! $800 + $400 to grow pound = $1200 to grow a pound, and then you turn around and sell it for $200 an ounce so then $200 x 16 ounces per pound = $3200 Thats $2000 PROFIT!!!! So you tell me that $50 an ounce is really that bad and thats if you selling it cheap!

mballs89

Feb 23 2009, 5:38 pm

creativity will help you get your weed out of cali and safely back home. So... you just bought a qp of white widow from cali and your drivin back home.
1st-dont smoke your bud untill you are safely home
2nd-invest in some kind of air-tight container which will contain your bud prior to your adventure
3rd-get a cooler or somekind of larger container then the container which holds your bud
4th-put activated carbon in your cooler along with the air tight container
5th-spray some kind of anti-smell spray (oust,ozium,lysol) over the carbon
6th put cooler in trunk and spray more anti-smell stuff in trunk

lastly, check your lights, make sure your vehicle is in decent shape, drive without swerving, and drive the speed limit all the way home.

This might even be too much. Just dont ever be lazy about it at leave your bud in plain sight.
WATCH FLEX YOUR RIGHTS!!! (its free somewhere on the net)

luke

Feb 23 2009, 5:35 pm

Im from England and this is the best news ive heard since i was born!!! My thoughts, hopes and prayers our with everyone involved in trying to get that legislation through. FIRST CALIFORNIA, THEN THE WORLD!!!!!

DREAM

Feb 23 2009, 5:12 pm

FUCK YOU MASS COP YOU ARE DUME FUCKING RETART GO SUCK DICK YOU FUCK HEAD!

anonymous

Feb 23 2009, 5:12 pm

to old grunt: 50$ an oz is better than what it is now illegal. Any upgrade is better than none man.

NW FL PATRIOT

Feb 23 2009, 4:55 pm

FLORIDA NEEDS TO DO THIS. WE HAVE SOME OF THE WORST DRUG LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.

freedom420

Feb 23 2009, 4:53 pm

fuck mas cop

mackdman

Feb 23 2009, 4:53 pm

To Mass Cop...

You are an idot another brainwashed drone in the corrupt system, anyone who has ever driven stoned knows that you feel like you are driving much much faster than you really are, there are more fatalities due to alcohol and idots who shouldnt be driving in the first place not peace minded stoners

HUH??

Feb 23 2009, 4:50 pm

How the hell is this going to work? If you drive out of the state with your bud your going to get busted. Any ideas on this?

Old Grunt

Feb 23 2009, 4:49 pm

To "Massachusetts Cop" what's rotting the nation from the inside is people like you who are obviously totally ignorant on the subject matter.

Where's your outrage on the deaths already caused by alcohol? Bet you've never said a fucking a thing about it.

mike

Feb 23 2009, 4:48 pm

i hope all states look real hard at this proposed ledgislation. this is exactly what is needed everywhere, not just california! democrat ammiano i salute you and your forward and real thought on this issue.please let's all legalize marijuana and move on to the hard issues facing this country. stop wasting money and lives on something so foolish.long live america and the land of the free!!

Old Grunt

Feb 23 2009, 4:45 pm

I agree...its a step in the right direction. But what the FUCK!!!$50 bucks an OZ??? If California taxed the same as for tobacco, it would be about $1.24 per ounce of weed. For alcohol California gets only 20 cents per gallon for beer and wine and $3.30 per gallon for distilled spirits.

Yeah, I think California should tax it. But $50 an ounce is OPPRESSIVE and disgriminates against pot smoking citizens.

Massachusetts Cop

Feb 23 2009, 4:32 pm

Headline reads:
California Highway Deaths Skyrocket
Marijuana is Leading Cause

Dream on.
IT WILL NEVER BE LEGAL.

It will rot this country from the inside out if it ever is.

west PA

Feb 23 2009, 4:25 pm

if that passes, i will fuckin drive out to cali once a month and give them all my money...for the ganj.

oh, and why dont they add funding for schools from the sales tax of ganj. Id be helping the kids every time i toked then. haha fuck pa

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 3:38 pm

OOOOKKKKK,any step in the right direction is a great big plus,soooo here is my grow tip for the day: When your plant reaches the third node,take the very center,(new set of leaves forming) and remove with tweezers,or scissors if your coordinated enuff not too cut your whole plant down. This will divide the stalk into 2 main stalks at the base of your plant.
Then we wait,,, till both those reach their third node,and repeat removal of new leaves forming. Continue this process through the vegetative state,or you get about eight equal stalks aiming skyward,unless you have lottsa room. But once you go into flower time,no more clippy. Send royalties too
Now I gotta wait,,,,,,,,,

Kaylee

Feb 23 2009, 3:38 pm

I'm actually so happy that this is finally happening, hopefully good old Canada will follow in the foot steps as soon as possible.

Good stuff

Feb 23 2009, 3:38 pm

This is great news. Hopefully the legislators will listen to their constituents and pass this into law. The fact that such a high ranking law official is backing this is very important. Bring about change California, we are counting on you to break the ground.

supermotojoe

Feb 23 2009, 3:27 pm

pass that shit yo !

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 3:15 pm

Now we gotta wait,,,,too see if it will pass,then we wait,,,too see if Arnie signs it. Then we gotta wait,,,, too see if the Dea raids California and locks everybody up.

Moses

Feb 23 2009, 3:14 pm

This Better get Passed.... LET MY PEOPLE GO FREE THE SLAVES OF HUMANTIY

Clay

Feb 23 2009, 3:10 pm

It's about fuckin time.