Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jun 2010
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2010 Steve Beck
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992
Author: Steve Beck

RAISE TAX BASE WITH MARIJUANA

Once again the evil devil marijuana raises its wicked head to destroy
the lives of misguided souls.

Consider these facts concerning the evil weed:

Marijuana is not the "entry drug" that leads our youth down the road
to destruction. Liquor and cigarettes head this category. Both legal
and taxed by the state and federal governments.

Marijuana sales in the U.S. are a multi-billion dollar per year
industry, which is tax free and thus a means to increase state tax
revenues.

Marijuana is not the prime drug smuggled into this country. In dollar
value it ranks behind cocaine, methamphetamine and opiates. All too
dangerous to legalize.

Marijuana use does not promote violent crime, any more than liquor or
gambling.

Marijuana can be abused just as easily as any legal
drug.

It is time to make radical changes in our tax system. If marijuana
were to be legalized and taxed, revenues would be on the par of
present liquor and cigarette tax revenues.

Perhaps we should make liquor and cigarette sales illegal in
Tennessee. Let's not bring that nightmare to Tennessee.

Maintain our state sales tax base with an added revenue
venue.

Steve Beck
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake