An alternative to popular faith
Finally, a good idea from government:
5/28/10: (CBS/ AP) “Local governments in California and other Western states have tried to clamp down on medical marijuana, but Oakland has taken a different approach: If you can’t beat ’em, tax ’em. After becoming the first U.S. city to impose a special tax on medical marijuana dispensaries, Oakland soon could become the first to sanction and tax commercial pot growing operations. Selling and growing marijuana remain illegal under federal law.
“Two City Council members are preparing legislation expected to be introduced next month that would allow at least three industrial-scale growing operations. One of the authors, Councilman Larry Reid, said the proposal is more of an effort to bring in money than an endorsement of legalizing marijuana use – although the council has unanimously supported that, too.
“The city is facing a $42 million budget shortfall. The tax voters approved last summer on the four medical marijuana clubs allowed under Oakland law is expected to contribute $1 million to its coffers in the first year, Reid said. A tax on growers’ sales to the clubs could bring in substantially more, he said. “
Cigarettes, liquor, gambling. All are addictive. All are harmful. All are legal. All are taxed. Why not drugs? Prohibition didn’t work. In fact, it may have increased the use of alcohol. Similarly, the “war on drugs” is an abysmal failure, causing more gang activity, smuggling, murder and other hardship than it prevents. Outlawing something people want never works. That’s why Oakland has a great idea.
Not only will this reduce crime and addiction, but it will bring the city much-needed revenue. Unlike the federal government, state and local governments are unable to create money at will, and so must rely on taxes and other sources.
Unless the righteous federal government messes things up, this will work, and will be followed by legalized (and licensed and taxed and controlled) poppy products.
Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com
No nation can tax itself into prosperity
#Monetary Sovereignty - Mitchell 
How about just let anyone grow marijuana. It’s a weed and doesn’t even need much in the way of crazy Monsanto seeds. Don’t allow government to pick the winner and loser of who grow it. There isn’t much FDA need to supervise it. Just let it grow.
And if we do that we can then bring back hemp and allow that to go back to paper pulp usage and now even use that to replace oil.
But you see, someone will “lose” if we allow anyone to grow marijuana since then you’d have to allow hemp to be grown too.
This talk of marijuana freedom will go no where.
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Tobacco can be grown anywhere in the South. Alcohol can be fermented anywhere. Gambling can be done anywhere. Yet all are legal, licensed, regulated and taxed.
Why not marijuana?
Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
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Not sure how this will reduce addiction but otherwise a good idea. However, if the marijuana is really used as medicine, we don’t tax other prescription drugs so it seems a bit unfair.
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I suspect marijuana will evolve to a shelf item as formerly prescription drugs often have. The reduction in addiction is problematical, but based on the attraction of forbidden fruit. Reportedly, alcohol became more in demand during Prohibition.
Of more importance (in addition to tax collections) is the standardization of quality that regulation can effect, and the replacement of illegal growers and importers with regulated businesses.
Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
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“05/28/2010; By Kelly Rayburn, Oakland Tribune
Almost 100 workers in Oakland’s medical marijuana industry have voted to be represented by organized labor, a first-of-its-kind event for an industry trying to build public support.”
How long will it be before marijuana is just another sin to be taxed, licensed and regulated, nationally, along with tobacco, alcohol and gambling? Not long, I suspect.
The states need the tax money, and this would drive out the criminals. Next stop: heroin.
Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
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“Small” government at its finest:
As everyone knows, the federal government is too big. Some call it the “leviathan”, so we should leave everything to state and local governments. They are honest.
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