A budget cure: Marijuana taxes? (MSM article)

[tridim]

A budget cure: Marijuana taxes?

In this desperate economy, some argue that legalizing and taxing marijuana could plug multibillion-dollar holes in federal and state coffers.

By John Dyer, MSN Money
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StockInvestingTrading/a-budget-cure-marijuana-taxes.aspx?gt1=33002

Daniel Stein says the salvation of U.S. taxpayers could be marijuana.

As Washington breaks the bank on Wall Street bailouts, President Barack Obama's stimulus package and other spend-now, pay-later measures, most observers agree that politicians will eventually need to increase revenue or cut spending to cover the federal government's debts.

Stein believes Washington could begin to balance its books now if politicians would take a serious look at his industry. The owner of two retail outlets that he claims generate $1 million in revenue annually, Stein says he pays around $80,000 a year in sales taxes to the state of California. But the federal government, which does not acknowledge Stein's sales as legitimate commerce, gets nothing from his business.

Sound odd? Not if you know that Stein sells marijuana. See inside a cannabis dispensary

In fact, because federal authorities have spent time trying to close his and other medical-marijuana clubs, Washington is losing money on him.

Imagine how much the feds would save if they stopped cracking down on sellers, Stein says. Lawyer: Why US should legalize pot

"Cannabis is good for the economy," he said. "It's been here the whole time, but it's had a bad rap the entire time."

More: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StockInvestingTrading/a-budget-cure-marijuana-taxes.aspx?gt1=33002

[crikkett]

1. time to get back to our roots

early colonies issued laws requiring farmers to grow hemp.

[flyboyscotty68]

2. It will cut both ways

It would be a boost at first. Then it would be one of the biggest bubble burst of all time.
When average people find out that they can cure themselves, with a couple of plants in the back yard, it will cause one giant bubble to burst.
The current medical system in all about treatment. When we start curring people; hospitals all over will be closed.
Millions of $'s in useless medical research will be illuminated.
Billions in drug sales will not be made.
It would be allot better eventually, but after you think about it for a while. It would cause a huge crash in the useless medical system that has been built around petroleum bases drugs would be over. The drug industry would loose billions of $'s in sales. It would be better for the people who are sick and dieing now,but, Will it be better for everyone. I think not. It would push our economy into a full depression. Yes, the people would benefit in the long-run.
This subject has SO many levels to it. It would be nice to get together a bunch of economist and have a honest discussion of what the true costs, and benefits, would be.

[bamacrat]

3. Fuck them, the pharmaceutical companies have been making billions off of continued suffering long en

It may hurt sales of anti depressants and apetite stimulants but why couldnt bigPharma sell weed? At first to cushion the blow. I think its bullshit. Legalizing weed would be capitalism at its best, let the people decide which method of treatment they want. I would dance a jig if the bgPharma companies went down. All they do is make us sicker by convincing us we have a problem that their lab derived petroleum based poisons will cure. Restless leg syndrome really? The economy would be better I think, if people were able to grow their natural herbal medicine or buy it for a reasonable price they would have all this money they dont have to spend on chemical drugs to spend.

I saw a documentary where a lady with MS said that for about $500 a month she could get enough potent weed to treat her ailments, which had she bought the prescription drugs her costs would have been well over $1000.

We cant hold back progress to save a corupt system.

Free the weed, free the people.

[wolfsbane]

4. Mmmmm... PIE!!!

:D