BREAKING NEWS: Massachusetts Lawmakers To Debate Marijuana Legalization Measure Tomor

[Grizvok]

With $250 an ounce tax, everyone involved is a drug dealer including Government.

Also it keeps the Black Market stable..

So why are the growers and sellers who are willing to risk prison now for profit against such a high tax?

Just a thought Guys...

It's probably just my specific viewpoint, but I think EVERYBODY that is against it is downright idiotic!

My first point is that these opportunities are going to come along every once in a while. The legislature has many other things to worry about and our political system can be slow at best, so complaining over the numbers when a specific clause is already in place to change around those numbers at will is almost redundant. The numbers will be addressed and at the very high mark they've set it at it won't be long at all before you see the state realize a few things.

Firstly, since growing will be legal, that totally cuts out the risk of the grow. More people will be doing it and because of that the amount of available marijuana will go up and since there is more available marijuana those not willing to grow will be more than happy to continue purchasing weed from their current cannabis tradesmen free of tax. They haven't been caught before so why not continue what hasn't failed them?

The state's revenue WILL NOT be impressive and they'll quickly change around the number to something reasonable and something that works. From the early data, they'll quickly get some linear programming done and decide on the best place to park the price for each class of cannabis. What they're looking for is maximum efficiency and simply put where it is at now isn't it and I think they've realized that even before the bill has been put into place.

 

[Grizvok]

i thought it stated that you could only sell an oz of cannabis above 10% thc for $250?



i dont know about you guys but id pay tax rather than go to jail. everyone has their "pride" to deal with but mine doesnt include big bubba and some cornbread.



how you going to feel going to jail over $1500/ yr tax for growing? when your making that in any given month (or week)...

What are you talking about? The TAX is $250 per ounce for class A cannabis. It says absolutely nothing about a price range at which cannabis is to be sold.

 

[nepalnt21]

I live in MA and let me tell you this wont pass anytime soon. this is a police state, havnt you seen the departed? this shit wont pass anytime soon and if it does ima be HEATED tax my herb??? assholes

damn dude cant have it all, how do you expect it to pass without a tax? i just wish my state would consider it. we would be less ungrateful. doesnt the prospect of being able to legally grow cannabis appeal to you in any way? if i were in massachusetts, id be out there all day campaigning for this to pass. are you guys allowed to speak at the hearing???

 

[Pythagllio]

Don't waste much of your mental resourses thinking about this bill, it is a non-event. Evidently MA allows residents to propose a law and petition the legislature to have it considered. Precisely how this bill got in front of this committee, it was the work of one guy. Darn it all, I thought maybe the politicians had picked up the scent of tax revenue. Oh well...next!

Evans got the bill before the state Legislature via the right to petition, a law that allows citizens to file bills. And because he found a legislator to file the bill on his behalf—improbably enough, it was Andrew Card, who went on to serve as chief of staff to George W. Bush but at the time was a progressive Republican state rep from eastern Mass.—it was guaranteed a committee hearing.

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n933/a03.html?999

 

[blizz]

anyone know how things worked out?

 

[the_man]

http://stash.norml.org/brian-bergeron-report-from-massachusetts-hb-2929-legalization-hearing

My Report From The Massachusetts Committee on Revenue Hearing for HB2929 (Cannabis Taxation and Regulation) on October 14, 2009

By Brian Bergeron

I just returned home from the meeting at the statehouse. It kicked off at 10am and lasted until close to 1. Though there were other bills on the docket, HB2929 received by far the majority of the attention. I’m happy to say that most of it was positive. I don’t know the exact number but I would say that around two-dozen or so people spoke in support of the bill in a manner of a three-minute testimony. Only one person managed to speak in opposition to the bill. He was from Worcester and was part of a public health/safety organization.

Many of the people that spoke were (and I told them as such) the ‘rock stars’ of marijuana reform. I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Keith Stroup, and Jack Cole (of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) who all spoke. Dick Evans, the author of the bill, whom I had worked with leading up to the hearing to drum up support, spoke articulately as well. MassCann and SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) were also well represented with passionate speakers. It was interesting to see the progression of the hearing. My own three-minute testimony had to do with how the prohibition affects so many issues that are important to the country today—health care, underage consumption, hemp as renewable energy, etc. The committee members started off disinterested, but over time I felt that they came around and started asking pertinent questions. Sadly, only half of the committee showed up, so a lot of our argument won’t be verbally relayed (though many people submitted written testimony). The meeting room was full and at its peak there was standing room only so we were well represented.

In the end, I doubt the measure will pass but it was a great step in the right direction and we will hopefully continue the debate. Mr. Evans felt that this was the largest, most serious legislative discussion for marijuana legalization that he has ever seen or been a part of.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated today in this big step. Good luck to California! Good luck to Oregon! Good luck to every other state that is trying to decriminalize cannabis, or legalize medical marijuana, and end this fruitless prohibition.

One thing that stuck out from the meeting is this: Early on, the committee chairman commented that this is the largest group of people who have ever come before him asking to be taxed.

We’re winning!

Thank you friends and let me know if you have any questions: brian@brianbergeron.net

 

[xxd]

i was to busy to look i have buds that need trimming and a mother that i must take clones from or i will fall behind sched.

keep us updated!
Nice buds, enjoy....
XXd

 

[corkushy]

so i watched some videos of the testimonies there was only one person who spoke apose to the bill all others were for the bill speakers included, but are not limited to "NORML's keith stroup,Bill Downing and steven epstein and the only one who spoke against the bill was The bill himself Bill Breault he was compareing marijuana to alcahol

 

[SeniorBuzz]

I would speak out against this bill myself; it's simply not feasible, or realistic; given time, I have no doubt that, I can, and will, write a far better bill that's agreeable to all players; I'm a very strong proponent of the K.I.S.S. adage.

 

[Grizvok]

I would speak out against this bill myself; it's simply not feasible, or realistic; given time, I have no doubt that, I can, and will, write a far better bill that's agreeable to all players; I'm a very strong proponent of the K.I.S.S. adage.

Your location says San Francisco.

 

[corkushy]

with this bill its going to make it even easier for me to sell. idk if i should be saying this but it will make the number of open users go way up which means it will be way easier for me to sell but on the downside im sure that theres gonna be a lot of undercover busts so watch who you sell to or your gonna be scrrrewed

 

[itisme]

$250 an ounce!!! GD greedy ass sob's!!! I can't even believe they would utter that shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF

 

[corkushy]

Your location says San Francisco.

my location says quebec

 

[corkushy]

i dont live in quebec infact im in the ***

 

[David420]

Does anybody know when the results of the vote will be revealed, or how long they have to vote on this?

 

[MoldyFrogToe]

Oops I made a thread about this by mistake but here's the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLOSpaNmUB8&feature=player_embedded

 

[Capt.Ahab]

One thing that stuck out from the meeting is this: Early on, the committee chairman commented that this is the largest group of people who have ever come before him asking to be taxed.

.

Bull.
The voters shot down a referendum to decrease the sales tax in Ma. last November.
They basically told the state house "put it to us", and they did, with a 25% tax increase.

 

[Amstel Light]

update?