The other day my lady and I had a long debate on how to go about legalizing cannabis. It seems the largest hurdle is the issue of income and taxation. We've seen bills come and go, we've heard the "just treat it like alcohol." Problem there is no one is going to set up a commercial brewery large enough to create untaxed revenue without getting caught. With a plant, you can. Nor does it seem right to have the government control all growing, production, and sales. It is, after all, produce. They don't with peppers and tomatos, they shouldn't with cannabis. But the government wants their cut if you produce and sell it. If you're a waitress the government has a figure they assume for the income you generate in the form of tips. If you claim zero income or too little in tips, they (based on your income) say, 'bullshit. You made this much money, you probably made this in tips.' To ensure they get their cut. When you buy or sell a used car, the MTO/DMV charges you the blue book value in taxes to make sure they get their cut in the chance that people are flipping cars to make an under the table living. So, why not tax it like tips, or treat it like insurance. I.E. You buy a license to grow. You state the size of the area you're using to grow. Based on that figure they asign a predetermined value you can potentially generate in revenue using that much land to produce and sell. You then either pay that in taxes annually, or another idea, pay a monthy figure like you would car insurance. Basically a financial fee in the chance that you're making money off it. Like we pay insurance in the event we need to make a claim. No it would not be free. But nothing is. There's a price to every priviledge.
Not to be a fascist, but I don't really want this to be a whether we should/we shouldn't debate. I'm more looking for ideas on legitimate political reform under the presumption that one supports the legalization of cannabis.
I'm pretty sure if you grow produce for profit, including tomatoes and peppers, it's subject to taxation.
I don't know.... All I really think though is that other states are very soon, one by one, look at Colorado (which they already are) and how much money the state has brought in in taxes and decide they need in on that. The federal government will also likely think the same thing and will eventually legalize it for the almighty dollar. Shrugs. And I wouldn't compare cannabis to other crops like fruits and vegetables in thinking about gov. regs and taxes.. I would instead think more on how tobacco is a crop yet tobacco is heavily taxed. So I would compare it to tobacco instead. I know there are all kinds of farm bills for FOOD crops, not cannabis is not a food, just like tobacco is a crop but not a food.
