Pubdate: Tue, 16 Feb 2016
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Gregory Goodwin
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n082/a05.html

GIVE ME YOUR MONEY

EDITOR: Here we go again. It was reported that state Sen. Mike 
McGuire, D-Healdsburg, has proposed additional taxes on marijuana 
sales ("Push for new medical pot tax," Thursday). Legitimate cannabis 
dispensaries may soon have to collect close to 30 percent in taxes on sales.

Paraphrasing McGuire, it's time to help communities with the negative 
effects of cultivation brought on by bad actors who destroy the 
environment and bring in crime. It sounds to me like a Pigovian or sin tax.

How about the cancer patient or epileptic child finding relief from 
marijuana use? Is that a sin?

This tax, if passed, could lead to black market sales (real crime) 
and/or big tobacco and pharmaceutical takeovers of our local 
industry. Beware the "Wal" pot business model.

GREGORY GOODWIN

Santa Rosa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom