Pubdate: Sun, 07 Aug 2005
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 BC Newspaper Group and New Media Development
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Kirk Muse

TAXING MARIJUANA MAY BOOST FEDERAL COFFERS

Editor: Re: Legalizing marijuana would end debate, letters, Langley Times,
July 31.

Legalizing it would also allow marijuana to be taxed.

It seems non-marijuana users would be very much in favour of taxing a
product they don't use. In Arizona, taxing other people's vices is very
popular.

If marijuana were regulated, taxed and sold in licensed business
establishments like tobacco products, countless millions, if not billions,
of dollars would flow into your nation's tax coffers.

Marijuana would then be no longer sold by criminals. Criminals who often
offer free samples of other, much more dangerous drugs, like meth and
cocaine, to their marijuana customers.

When I was a marijuana user, which is more than 15 years ago, I was
frequently offered free samples of other drugs like meth and cocaine.

(Yet, I've never been offered a free sample of whiskey or vodka when buying
beer or wine).

Fortunately, I turned down all offers of free samples of other drugs.

Unfortunately, many others do not - thus the gateway effect.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Josh