Marijuana will help plug state budget hole

[Froward69]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15869497

Marijuana will help plug state budget hole
By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post
Posted: 08/23/2010 03:21:43 PM MDT
Gov. Bill Ritter's latest plan to help balance the budget relies heavily on money generated from the energy industry and some that's coming from marijuana smokers.

Ritter announced today he would cut about $6.2 million in spending from the state's general fund and transfer $53.4 million from various cash funds to help balance the budget. Because the state is not receiving as much federal Medicaid aid as expected, Colorado now faces a shortfall in the current budget year of about $60 million."Today's balancing plan continues the same strategies we've utilized throughout the downturn," Ritter said in a statement. "We are preserving essential services, protecting the safety net, minimizing pain and requiring shared sacrifices and shared solutions from everyone. This is a responsible plan that continues to position Colorado for a healthy and sustainable recovery."
<snip> {more at link)
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15869497

yet the crazy part is how all that cash has now been diverted from getting people their cards... (my wait is now in its 9th month)
Additionally with the new restrictions placed upon the dispensaries... the whole Market is going back under ground.

[Froward69]

1. Puff, Puff, pass...

shameless :kick:

[Froward69]

2. ...UPDATE

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_15873063

Ritter turns to medical-marijuana fund to help balance Colorado budget
By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post

He opposed it as Denver's district attorney, but Gov. Bill Ritter is now turning to medical marijuana to heal the state budget.

The plan Ritter announced Monday to bridge a nearly $60 million shortfall in the current budget year relies on $9 million from the state's Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund, financed by fees on patients who get cards to use medical pot. With the number of applicants for medical-marijuana cards expected to double to 150,000 this year, there will still be about $1 million left in the fund even after $9 million is swept from it.

Ritter, a Democrat, said that no matter what he thought about medical marijuana as a prosecutor when voters approved it under Amendment 20 in 2000, it's legal now, and he has a budget to balance.

"I was not in favor of medical marijuana, but I'm also a lawyer and the governor," Ritter said, "and I believe in the law. And it's the law in this state."

The state used $3 million from the fund last year to help balance the budget. Even so, Ritter said using the pot money was just a one-time solution.
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http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_15873063

It would appear the only entity Getting Addicted to Marijuana (or marijuana's cash) is the State... :rofl:

As well as even though it was done last year... It appears that the State Constitution prohibits taking these funds from the MMJ registry... the Lawyers are Oiling their briefcases.