NM Senator Proposes Medical Pot Tax

[Sandia]

Not having any idea what the costs involved for patients are (still awaiting to discuss entering the program with my doctor at our next visit since he brought the subject up), I think there could be pro/cons of the tax. More cons IMO but I am pondering this subject.

Playing Devil's advocate here:

Any business will pass on taxes/excise fees/operating costs/licensing fees/ etc...on to the consumer. This would make the end product for the customer more expensive.

NOW...I do agree with Bedrockbob that by taxing MMJ in a REASONABLE fashion, would probably help legitimize AND make the popularity (if you could call it that) more palatable to people in the legislature. The key, for the folks on the consumer end, would be that the tax would have to be relatively small...say a percent or two.

As the number of MMJ patients grows, the amt of funding going to the state (and we all know it won't be used for this program :wtf would increase as well. It would also be a SEPARATE line of revenue to the state that is NOT part of the sales tax already collected.

If you follow the logic here, since there would be a SEPARATE source of revenue for the state, not many politicians would be keen on cutting this because of the revenue obtained.

This 'may' help such a newly approved program gain more support from legislators, and perhaps prevent it's discontinuation in the future. (God forbid!)

SIDE NOTE: The amt of the excise tax proposed is preposterous in my book. I also agree with JohnMoad that MEDICINE should NOT be taxed. I am just thinking out loud on the subject. I am NOT a fan of excessive taxation by any stretch of the imagination, but I want to ensure that this program is NOT removed at some point in the future.

Sandia Reviewed by Sandia on 01-24-2010. NM Senator Proposes Medical Pot Tax Senator Proposes Medical Pot Tax By Dan Boyd Journal Capitol Bureau SANTA FE - Tobacco, alcohol, candy and soft drinks aren't the only products being eyed by New Mexico legislators as possible tax targets. Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales, has introduced a pair of proposals to tax medical marijuana, arguing that cannabis should be treated like any other commercial product. "We need to get into a point of realism with medical marijuana as a mainstream item," Sapien said Rating: 5

[Sandia]

There's more tobacco and alcohol usage than MMJ, why aren't they trying to levy that kind of tax?
Can someone say "tea party!"

Dennis from Montana

Dennis....pretty much all states in the US levy an "excise tax" on tobacco. If you look at the link below:

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/resea...s/pdf/0097.pdf

It breaks down the amt of taxes on each pack of cigarettes.....I don't smoke cigarettes but lets say that it costs $5.00 per pack. Factor out the $1.01 (rounded to a buck) the cost would be $4.00 per pack. If you look at what NM 'charges' on each pack ($0.91) then my math comes out to be 22.75% on a pack of cigarettes for the state.

Cigarettes, at least to my knowledge, are NOT considered medicine. Sooooo IMO this should NOT apply to the MMJ product.

Taxes are a touchy subject.....probably with everyone....but in the previous post I made, levying a small excise tax MAY, and I stress MAY....make the MMJ program harder to get rid of if some legislators attempt to do that.

Personal opinion....the 25% excise tax is preposterous for a medical product in my opinion only.

[bedrockbob]

It is a raw deal for a patient to have to pay more for MMJ. The suggestion that MMJ be taxed is a way to get the legislators thinking. It is a great thing to consider and a great reason to call the dude up and tell him how you feel as a patient and a voter. Only if it was LEGALIZED would it be a cash cow for the government. I dont see it as fair, and I dont see it as good governace...I just see it as one more nail in the coffin of prohibition.

Any time we can get our legislators to discuss any aspect of marijuana it is good. Fifteen years ago I was sitting in jail for carrying it. Now we are griping about paying an extra tax on it. Heck, the extra tax is being considered on candy, and soft drinks too.

It is just a proposal and the legislator is asking that it be discussed. If anything comes out of it it will certainly not be 25%. Again, call your reps and tell them how you feel. Not all ideas are good ideas but even BAD ideas are great for our cause because they promote discusion.

[olliegrow]

25% would be crazy, people who need it would pay that tax !! they will still grow their own for that price and tax !

[coolslayer]

I think that it is a great idea actually. I know that it is just another tax, but I look at it this way...

They are setting up a system by which it CAN be legalized and controlled. They are laying the groundwork for it to be a viable industry. A marijuana industry in New Mexico. Any industry has to pay taxes. I know it is a rough deal for MMJ patients but it will all even out a lot faster if we embrace this. Our politicians actually want to legalize or decriminalize to some extent. As politicians they cant let it get too wild (i.e.California) and they dont want to come out in favor of it unless it makes great fiscal sense. Soon it will.

The whole deal is MONEY. If we buy on the black market we support crime and so marijuana remains illegal. If we build a LEGAL system we enjoy a certain amount of freedom. To legalize also means to tax. Taxing will give them incentive to allow more people to get cards. One begats the other.

As opposed as I am to the government getting a cut of anything, I have to accept it as reality.

I disagree,because folks on a fixed income will not be able to afford the high prices of medical herb and will have to get their medicine on the street until it is legalized or decriminalized,which could be and probably WILL be a LONG time from now.

[bedrockbob]

I agree that 25% is rediculous, but it was just a starting point for a discussion. They will discuss it! That is exactly why the legislators propose such a thing to try and get people to ante up.

I do not honestly believe that the price of MMJ has any chance of doing anything except plummeting. Growers in Cali are sitting on two and three crops. They just passed a law that anyone with a card can grow up to the federal limit without fear of prosecution. Cali pot is flooding every market including the illegal markets and driving prices through the floor.

Changing times. I do believe they will allow MMJ for a whole host of new conditions soon, effectively legalizing the herb as in Cali. Once this program has reached some sort of maturity they will let it grow as fast as it can and not be chaos. Adding conditions as growth permits.

I dont want MMJ to be taxed and honestly I dont think that they will. The senator suggested it, they will discuss it, and if MMJ patients call up and make some racket with their representatives it could only be a GOOD thing. By discussing it openly and honestly with our doctors, out legisltors, and even the LAW we can definitely make headway in these changing times.

Some states have a marijuana tax stamp. I would do it in a little different way. I would let anyonbe grow as much herb as they thought they could sell....open market. All herb would be sold at a "farmers market" type place and as it was sold it would carry a tax stamp like tobacco. If the pot had the stamp it was legal. American small business flourishes, Americans growin' what they are consumin' and Uncle Sam gets his extra grease because he is the baddest gangster of them all.

[JohnMonad]

The 25% was purposed as a tax on the growers net. Not to patients as I understand it.
That 25% would most likely put Producers out of business and we are back on the streets.

JM

[bedrockbob]

Well then I guess we are all just fucked then. We may as well just start smoking crack.

And all because that darn senator from Corrales "purposed" a tax on Marijuana.

[coolslayer]

The medical cannabis prices are already too high for folks on a fixed income,especially if their medical bills are not completely covered and have to be paid out of pocket.

[patient4200]

it's all well and good to be indignant here, but that' will not stop this from happening. If you are not registered to vote, register now. Write the senator. Talk to your friends and tell them how much this will impact you and others in your position.

A well placed email does get attention, find his contact information in my previous post in this thread