Earl the Pearl proposes 50% pot tax
Blumenauer's bill would create a federal marijuana excise tax of 50 percent on the "first sale" of marijuana - typically, from a grower to a processor or retailer. It also would tax pot producers or importers $1,000 annually and other marijuana businesses $500.His office said Monday it doesn't yet have an estimate of how much the taxes might bring in. But a policy paper Blumenauer and Polis are releasing this week suggests, based on admittedly vague estimates, that a federal tax of $50 per ounce could raise $20 billion a year. They call for directing the money to law enforcement, substance abuse treatment and the national debt.
What a visionary! He wants the population stoned, broke, and on a bicycle.
| Posted at 12:17 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (15)
"He wants the population stoned, broke, and on a bicycle."
The population of Portland is already stoned, broke, and on a bicycle.
The 50% Federal excise tax is pretty funny though - we've heard for years from legalization advocates that we should legalize pot, so we can tax it. As we get closer to actual legalization, expect to hear screams regarding the imposition of actual taxes.
Oregon should pass a 50% excise tax on top of the Federal one, just to hear the reaction.
Posted by Randomx | February 5, 2013 3:38 AM
The population of Portland is already stoned, broke, and on a bicycle.
See? It's working!
Posted by Jack Bog | February 5, 2013 4:01 AM
Earl won't rest until everyone is wearing a bow tie and stoned, and broke and on a bicycle.
Posted by PAUL | February 5, 2013 6:00 AM
Isn't this the same line of reasoning they use to justify the lottery?
Earl = Hubris
When is he actually going to do something useful for the population?
Posted by Steve | February 5, 2013 6:17 AM
Doesn't the federal government still consider marijuana an illegal substance? How can it tax that which it claims should be forbidden altogether? Earl is confused, he's putting the train before the engine.
Posted by Nolo | February 5, 2013 7:07 AM
Putting the state in charge. What could go wrong?
Posted by reader | February 5, 2013 7:15 AM
Please explain this to me, Pot is legalized, then taxed big time making legal pot more expensive than illegal, pot so we keep buying the illegal stuff. How can the brilliant officials tell, when we just happen to have a bowel glowing, if it's the legal or illegal variety.
Posted by phil | February 5, 2013 7:16 AM
It's like a farmer's diesel and the stuff for your Jetta on public roads. One has green die in it.
The legal pot comes from Mexico and is more green.
Posted by Harry | February 5, 2013 7:22 AM
One would think that decriminalizing marijuana would reduce the need for law enforcement.
Posted by MJ | February 5, 2013 8:18 AM
Stoned, broke, on a bicycle ... on the way to buy a lottery ticket.
Posted by sally | February 5, 2013 8:29 AM
Light it up Earl in the Pearl should consider parking and then using a couple of those empty streetcars navigating the eastside for pot parlors that also include a cover charge - bow ties optional. Maybe then the streetcars will come a little closer to being financially self-sustainable. The smog from pot smokers could then be contained so the rest of us can breathe clean fresh air.
Posted by TR | February 5, 2013 10:18 AM
Taxing a product at 50%? What could go wrong with that?
Just like the 80 people burned alive in Waco, just a few questions about an unpaid tax.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQT-0umIo6Y
Posted by Concordbridge | February 5, 2013 12:25 PM
Phil - How much pot do you have to smoke to make your bowel glow?
Posted by some dude | February 5, 2013 2:04 PM
TR,
What a visual, like a movie scene!
I realize pot is not opium, but that idea of the eastside streetcars for pot parlors reminds me of a bit of our history here, those underground opium dens.
Of course nowadays all is above ground, right?
Posted by clinamen | February 6, 2013 12:26 AM
Suddenly the driverless car bill makes a lot more sense.
Robot drivers won't get a contact high.
I would pay to see "Cheech and Chong in Portlandia" on the big screen.
Posted by panchopdx | February 6, 2013 10:21 AM