cannabisnews.com: The Wages of Sin are ... Taxes The Wages of Sin are ... Taxes Posted by CN Staff on October 18, 2002 at 17:14:06 PT By Barry Smith Source: Nevada Appeal Any thought I might have had of voting in favor of the Question 9 marijuana initiative went up in smoke this week when a proponent said it could generate millions of dollars in tax revenue.Is nothing sacred? This news came on the same day Gov. Kenny Guinn said he favors raising the taxes on cigarettes, liquor, gambling and retail sales. These are the so-called "sin" taxes. (If you don't think retail sales are a sin, then you haven't been shopping at the mall with my family on the day after Thanksgiving. They should belong to Shoppers Anonymous, but they won't admit they have a problem.)See, the only reason marijuana isn't taxed now is that it's illegal. Marijuana, I mean. Not taxes.So Billy Rogers, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, said legalizing pot in Nevada could generate $28 million a year in taxes.This is an important issue, because Nevada is so short of money right now they're thinking of leasing out space on the capital plaza for an upscale shopping center. (That's a joke, as far as I know.)So every little scrap of tax revenue that could possible be wrung out of the populace is being considered by the Governor's Task Force on Wringing Every Possible Scrap of Tax Revenue Out of the Populace.Cigarettes, liquor, gambling, dryer lint, a state lottery, going to a movie, bowling, walking and chewing gum at the same time -- they're all fair game.But until this week, I suspect the Governor's Task Force on Wringing Every Possible Scrap of Tax Revenue Out of the Populace hadn't even considered the pro-pot Question 9 as a revenue source.Had task force members been puffing pot at their meetings, however, it eventually would have come up. You know how these things happen in state government's smoke-filled back rooms.The chairman comes in carrying an armload of Carl's Jr. bags with enough cheeseburgers to feed an army."Hey, dudes," he says, slapping palms with other Task Force members. "Sorry I took so long with the burgers, man, but I got half-way through the drive-up and couldn't remember what I was supposed to be doing. I had to go through twice.""That's cool. That's cool. No hassles, man. Where are the Cokes?""Oh, wow. I thought you had them. I'll go back.""No, that's alright. We need to get some business done here figuring out which taxes to raise so the state of Nevada will have enough money to operate for two more years. Put on some Pink Floyd.""Hey, I've got an idea.""What is it?""I can't remember.""Well, try.""OK. OK. I think I've got it. Wouldn't it be funny if we taxed marijuana?"The group gets a good chuckle out of that. The sound of cash registers is ka-chinking in the background as Pink Floyd launches into "Money" on the stereo."Wait, I'm serious. We endorse Question 9, legalize marijuana and start collecting taxes on it. Think of all the millions of dollars that passes hands between the pot smokers and the dealers, and we're not getting a dime of it. That's just not the American way.""Oh, dude. That's so bogus. You would put a tax on weed? I thought you were cool."The Task Force zones out for awhile while they consider whether it would be cool to tax marijuana."You know, we tax cigarettes ...""And booze ...""We get lots of tax money from gambling.""This would be just another sin tax, wouldn't it? It would fit right in with Nevada. Land of opportunity. Free rein. Anything goes. You know, as long as the people who are doing it are adults, they have the right to decide for themselves whether they partake in any particular activity.""Yeah, it wouldn't be like we were forcing them to do something. We'd just be collecting some taxes from it in order to support the legitimate functions of state government. It could be awesome!"The Task Force members start busily scribbling notes to make recommendations to the governor. The CD changer finishes with the Floyd and switches over to Elton John.The chairman looks up from his notes. "Hey, are there any other possibilities we might have overlooked for additional sin taxes? I mean, the governor gave us specific instructions to look at everything.""I don't know. Let's see. There is another issue on the ballot. It's this Question 2 'Protection of Marriage' thing. What do you think that's about?"Barry Smith is editor of the Nevada Appeal.Source: Nevada Appeal (NV)Author: Barry SmithPublished: October 18, 2002Copyright: 2002 Nevada AppealContact: appeal tahoe.comWebsite: http://www.nevadaappeal.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Proposed Marijuana Tax Prompts Debate http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14485.shtmlMarijuana Tax Worth $28.6 Million, Study Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14468.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 19, 2002 at 05:36:11 PT LTE - Sin Tax Error Sirs, Barry Smith's column is mean-spirited and ill-informed. Before the WAMM hospice center in California was raided by the DEA this past September 5th, they estimated their costs of producing high-quality marijuana at just under $1 per gram. Marijuana currently sells on the black market for at least five to ten times that much. That overhead goes to criminals and corrupt law enforcement officials. If we sold marijuana legally, there is plenty of room to tax it and still make it cheaper than the current black market prices. Consumers would be able to buy a safer product in a safer environment. And speaking of sins... the current prohibition of marijuana is what federal officials use to justify acts like the WAMM hospice raid, or the accidental shooting death of 23-year-old Ohio resident Clayton Helriggle during a raid over a misdemeanor's worth of marijuana. We as a nation already pay $40 billion in taxes to support the actions of the anti-drug crusaders, who murder and lie and steal in the name of the law. A tax on legal marijuana sales would be far less costly, and support far less sinful acts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by knox42897 on October 19, 2002 at 00:43:17 PT: MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Hello Everyone,I like to tell everyone if you donate a $100.00 or more you get to become a member of Question 9 Leadership Circle. Membership benefits include weekly email updates from Billy Rogers and invitations to exclusive strategy sessions with senior campaign staffBeing a member has its privaledges. They give you a briefing's on how the campaign is doing and what there next move is. I saw the next commercial that's going to come out soon. I'm not going to give it away, but the czar is going doing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on October 19, 2002 at 00:15:52 PT Go knox Go Go knox Go Thank You knox. You are a good example to all that see this.100 dollars is a very generous donation for one person added to the amount you have already donated, plus the amount you have been able to persuade others to give to a good cause, most people would consider you a modern day minuteman. If they do not I certainly do. Thank you again. One day this madness will end, with a little help from our friends. With more of this type of patriotism change will come about.Note to all: knox donated 100 dollars. If many people could donate any amount, these donations would ad up to a great sum. That great sum that would be used to bring about change. Think about how much it could cost one person in the wrong place, at the wrong time, if the laws are not changed. This could be you, your neighbor, your brother, and your sister, your mother and father, your sons & daughters. A meager donation is just a small fraction as compared to the consequences of outdated and unjust laws Think about it, then donate. The butt you can save, might be your own.$100,000 needed now for Question 9. Check NRLE Website A small price for freedom.Help our friends at http://www.nrle.org They are very serious and are doing a professional job. They need money, a lot of it and now. Send them anything. Every bit helps. The time is here to do our part. Nevada is taking a big step for man, and huge, gigantic leaps, bounds, and cartwheels for mankind.And don’t forget to VOTE VOTE VOTE [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by knox42897 on October 18, 2002 at 22:30:15 PT: DONATED Hello Everyone, I wanted to say I donated $100.00 to the NRLE today! Please if you can help they would appreciate it! Pierre [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by MikeEEEEE on October 18, 2002 at 21:45:05 PT A new twist on prohibitionist theme He won't vote yes because it would give support to the idea of sin taxes. Perhaps he hasn't heard of the sins committed by the drug war. Has this bozo forgotten about capitalism, is he tring to say the government or people can't make a buck, hey, that's as American as apple pie.This guy is a complete idiot. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Had Enough on October 18, 2002 at 21:06:59 PT One last thing Mr. Smith Mr. Smith, You should be ashamed of yourself for disrespecting Pink Floyd in this way. I doubt you would use them in this way to their face. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on October 18, 2002 at 20:54:25 PT And another thing Mr. Smith “(If you don't think retail sales are a sin, then you haven't been shopping at the mall with my family on the day after Thanksgiving. They should belong to Shoppers Anonymous, but they won't admit they have a problem.)"If you can see the fact that your family has a behavioral problem. How come you cant’ see the fact that you need to go to a treatment center for bad writers.$100,000 needed now for Question 9. Check NRLE Website A cheap price for freedom.Do not forget our friends at http://www.nrle.org They are very serious and are doing a professional job. They need money, a lot of it and now. Send them anything. Every bit helps. The time is here to do our part. Nevada is taking a big step for man, and huge, gigantic leaps, bounds, and cartwheels for mankind. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on October 18, 2002 at 20:43:13 PT One more thing Mr. Smith One more thing Mr. Smith. Most people I know don’t like paying taxes any more than you do, however, most people realize that some taxes are necessary. Most people just don’t like the way they are abused and squandered, then have the system come back and say, “We need more tax money to give you more of the same”. How about the way the amount you are taxed on is set up? How about tax cuts for the wealthiest upper crust part of our society? What ever happened to the middle class society, did they have to make up the difference? These are the things you should be writing about Mr. Smith. Get a real job; quit polluting society with your jive. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on October 18, 2002 at 20:32:51 PT This guy makes absolutely no sense... NONE! He seemed so intent on concocting the corniest, driest piece of journalistic "humor" I think I have ever read, I have a feeling he forgot the point he was trying to make.The Nevada Appeal needs to fire this loser, and quick! Maybe he can get a job writing sitcom scripts somewhere. That's about the level his comic writing is at. Or maybe they want some anti supporter that makes cutesy humor to adorn their paper with his sludge. In that case, I will pass the newsstands next time I go to Carson City. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Had Enough on October 18, 2002 at 20:26:13 PT Mr.Smith Mr.Smith,Do you get really get paid for this? If that is all it takes maybe some people who posts comments here should get a new job. Your Job!!! Cheap shots don’t work here. These people are not deaf, dumb, or blind, they can see right through the haze.VOTE VOTE VOTE $100,000 needed now for Question 9. Check NRLE Website A cheap price for freedom.Do not forget our friends at http://www.nrle.org They are very serious and are doing a professional job. They need money, a lot of it and now. Send them anything. Every bit helps. The time is here to do our part. Nevada is taking a big step for man, and huge, gigantic leaps, bounds, and cartwheels for mankind. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dave in Florida on October 18, 2002 at 20:02:34 PT What a Jerk Barry, you are a pathetic piece of crap! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment