General Discussion

Donald Ian Rankin

(13,598 posts)

36. The OP.

Wed Feb 26, 2014, 03:04 PM

Feb 2014

The OP says $25,000,000, and I'm dividing that by 5,000,000, which wikipedia gives as the population of colorado.

Even if it were $100,000,000, as you say, that's still only $20 a head.

The saving from crime reduction may well, as you say, be significant, but I don't expect the tax income to be, even in the long term.

Alcohol and tobacco bring in significant quantities of revenue because people who smoke and drink often do so quite a lot. I'm not an expert on cannabis usage patterns, but my impression is that most people who smoke it do so irregularly and infrequently. It wouldn't surprise me if 20 years from now as many people smoked cannabis as nicotine, but it would surprise me if they smoked comparable quantities.

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Pot smokers have said forever "Make it legal, tax it, and we'll be glad to pay!" Well, [View all] ChisolmTrailDem Feb 2014 OP

Care should be taken to keep taxes reasonable... Eleanors38 Feb 2014 #1

where is this black market for tobacco? I need to find it! robinlynne Feb 2014 #8

It's in semis hauling cartons of butts from NC Warpy Feb 2014 #39

and Florida too. TeamPooka Feb 2014 #89

Tell 'em to come up here once in a while - raven mad Feb 2014 #96

Hey, you don't get the price break Warpy Feb 2014 #99

Rats. raven mad Feb 2014 #100

Nah, you might as well quit and breathe fresh air. Warpy Feb 2014 #104

I've tried. 17 times, actually. raven mad Feb 2014 #105

Some people can't quit Warpy Feb 2014 #106

And e-cigs have been reported to be worse than the real thing. raven mad Feb 2014 #107

I don't think anything is worse than sucking concentrated smoke into your lungs Warpy Feb 2014 #108

Mine have a tendency to burn out. raven mad Feb 2014 #109

Uh, I've seen Jonesing smokers clawing through the coffee grounds and orange peels at 3 AM Warpy Feb 2014 #110

I've tried patches, lozenges, gum and........... raven mad Feb 2014 #112

"Easier than dealing drugs..." progressoid Feb 2014 #43

California. Illinois. New York, to name three n/t Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #55

Its huge off the indian res south of here belcffub Feb 2014 #59

And those are the amateurs. The Michiganders with rowboats during Prohibition. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #69

You can't be looking very hard. small D democrat Feb 2014 #60

Sorry,...no king sized Kents.... Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2014 #66

Google "tobacco product smuggling" and take your pick... Eleanors38 Feb 2014 #71

WA State is already screwing this up with their phony legislative efforts. Worthless efforts by jtuck004 Feb 2014 #22

So ... are the lawmakers requiring prices of $70-90 per 1/8th in the stores? brett_jv Feb 2014 #85

The stores aren't open yet, so this is just gleaned from writings about it, but it appears that jtuck004 Feb 2014 #88

104% tax and three profit margins are why prices will be double to triple in WA boblgumm Feb 2014 #90

I agree with you on the pot yeoman6987 Feb 2014 #103

It's good sense, but prohis don't have much good sense. Eleanors38 Feb 2014 #113

The states that legalize it first will have the benefit of industry, as well. loudsue Feb 2014 #2

And the people (with great skills) who happen to live in illegal states... tridim Feb 2014 #7

What is interesting is the governor has recently been quoted as advising other governors Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #3

plus the pot tourism. mopinko Feb 2014 #29

Oh yes, I can imagine.. the unique "pot tourism".. Cha Feb 2014 #53

I have lived in Colorado 24 years and in all that time beveeheart Feb 2014 #65

yep. Spinal stenosis sufferer here. Timez Squarez Feb 2014 #70

Which ever state in the North East Legalizes First is going to make a killing. wocaonimabi Feb 2014 #4

There is a way to have it as a nationwide referrendum, isn't there? Jamastiene Feb 2014 #64

Nope. jeff47 Feb 2014 #72

That sucks. Jamastiene Feb 2014 #75

I would far rather see NYS legalize pot instead of allowing 6 casinos to be built upstate. hedgehog Feb 2014 #5

+1. Gambling (losing) destroys families. grahamhgreen Feb 2014 #15

It doesn't do much for the neighborhoods, either! hedgehog Feb 2014 #20

In some countries the casino profits go into the general fund. grahamhgreen Feb 2014 #48

Well, to be fair... pipi_k Feb 2014 #27

I think it's a matter of frequency, severity and consequences hedgehog Feb 2014 #28

The instances of people going broke from smoking pot are miniscule Doctor_J Feb 2014 #95

Like casinos, many states will be afraid to miss out on the gold rush. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #6

What, $5 per capita? N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #11

You forget the massive savings--no incarceration, prosecution, or interdiction costs. Romulox Feb 2014 #12

I was wondering when someone would state the real benefits. Not to mention A Simple Game Feb 2014 #42

You can't put a price on a society based on justice, rationality and fair play. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #56

What we need is a massive state to make it legal... Lobo27 Feb 2014 #9

illinois. mopinko Feb 2014 #30

And Wisconsin will continue its downward spiral AllyCat Feb 2014 #57

A whole $5 per capita! The economy is saved! Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #10

See above. Your missing a few things. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #13

See above. You're the one missing a few things... N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #14

What an argument. Hats off to you. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #17

Nuh-uh. You! Iggo Feb 2014 #19

First, I'm not offering an "argument". Second, ChisolmTrailDem Feb 2014 #16

Where are you getting that number from? Ohio Joe Feb 2014 #18

The OP. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #36

What are you a food and beverage industry lobbyist? Earth_First Feb 2014 #47

No, a mathematician. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #54

Then you'd probably realize you need something to measure that against. jeff47 Feb 2014 #73

This right here tells me all I need to know,personally... Ghost in the Machine Feb 2014 #91

That amount is just for a few months. A years worth of taxes Autumn Feb 2014 #98

It's actually $184 million in anticipated tax revenues for this year alone. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #25

$37 per capita. So no, not very significant. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #37

Hey, when your blowing 2/billion a week in Afghanistan, the feel you must cut 7b/year from food grahamhgreen Feb 2014 #51

What is the precise number that would be a "big deal"? LanternWaste Feb 2014 #68

$37 per capita, plus FREEDOM. nt tridim Feb 2014 #101

This needs to go further SmittynMo Feb 2014 #21

The laws here in Colorado are pretty much the same as for alcohol... Ohio Joe Feb 2014 #24

Thanks for the input SmittynMo Feb 2014 #33

they use a blood test for duid fizzgig Feb 2014 #41

I agree with making progress SmittynMo Feb 2014 #49

they use blood tests for alcohol, too fizzgig Feb 2014 #77

The poster is trying to point out that we have no appropriate measuring system with THC brett_jv Feb 2014 #86

where did i say we had a good measurement? fizzgig Feb 2014 #87

All good points. SmittynMo Feb 2014 #93

Where did I say ... that you said that? brett_jv Feb 2014 #97

Once again, we were correct. calimary Feb 2014 #23

It's actually not $25 million but $184 million in pot tax revenues expected this year. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #26

Just think of the gold mine all the other states are missing out on. SmittynMo Feb 2014 #34

I think "chicken feed" is closer than "gold mine", to be honest. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2014 #38

$184 million in tax revenues for one state in one year ain't "chicken feed." Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #44

184 million? SmittynMo Feb 2014 #52

That $25million I cited was the initial projection. Whatever, it's all good - they're throwing ChisolmTrailDem Feb 2014 #40

Yes, it's much better than your OP suggested. Just strengthening your argument. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #45

If only other states would wise up and follow their lead. Jamastiene Feb 2014 #31

It eventually will. With the republicans in the Indiana B Calm Feb 2014 #35

I'm afraid with McCrory in as governor here Jamastiene Feb 2014 #62

I'm not so sure. jeff47 Feb 2014 #76

Plus, the rural counties like mine, that dried up because leaders here Jamastiene Feb 2014 #79

Hickenlooper is warning other states to "go slow" RainDog Feb 2014 #32

We think alike.. Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #74

Yeah RainDog Feb 2014 #111

Money talks!! And I think states will listen! And hasn't it been about money all along, really? DesertDiamond Feb 2014 #46

Agreed. Warren DeMontague Feb 2014 #50

Colorado Rocks otohara Feb 2014 #58

How much do they save on law enforcement and prison? (NT) The Wizard Feb 2014 #61

That amount HAS to be high, I would think. Jamastiene Feb 2014 #63

Lawyers, Judges, Clerks, Cops, Prison Guards, Lab techs.. SomethingFishy Feb 2014 #67

Just decriminalize it. Old and In the Way Feb 2014 #78

I think you mean legalize it, if I can get picky for a minute. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #80

they are different fizzgig Feb 2014 #81

Growing your own is very rewarding. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #82

it would have to be the husband's project fizzgig Feb 2014 #83

$25M = a lot of twinkies cvoogt Feb 2014 #84

Yay us! colorado_ufo Feb 2014 #92

It doesn't do any good if employers still test...... Hotler Feb 2014 #94

Employers are going to have to rethink their drug testing policies. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2014 #102