Column: Should Marijuana be Legalized and Taxed?
Eric Risberg, Associated Press
July 29, 2009
Syracuse Online (Syracuse, NY)
The fiscal year 2009 was difficult for many states, including New York, and 2010 is predicted to be even more challenging in terms of budget shortfalls.
In California, a Democratic State Assemblyman introduced a controversial bill this year proposing a tax on marijuana at $50 per ounce. On Tuesday, activists from Oakland filed a ballot measure with the California attorney general's office that would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of pot. Under the proposal, homeowners could also legally grow pot for personal use.
According to Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, if California and other states were to tax marijuana like they do with cigarettes and alcohol, it would easily bring in $100 million or more each year. Miron also says legalization would save $7.7 billion a year on 'war on drugs' spending.
Opponents argue addiction levels will rise if pot is made legal. |
