Pubdate: Mon, 12 Apr 2010
Source: Daily Evergreen, The (Washington State U, WA Edu)
Copyright: 2010 WSU Student Publications Board
Contact:  http://www.dailyevergreen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2843
Author: William Stetson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SAY 'NO' TO WEED LEGALIZATION

State Marijuana Bill Counters Federal Law, Would Not Save Money in Long Run

With a nearly bankrupt government already exhausting Washington 
state's economy, the "do what feels good" lobby is attempting to make 
things worse. Using the floundering state economy as an excuse, pot 
advocates are trying to legalize marijuana.

A few Democrats tried to pass HB 2401 earlier this year. The bill 
would have legalized marijuana production and distribution at the 
state level. Supporters predicted a $380 million revenue increase per 
biennium through a 15 percent tax on cannabis, making the legislation 
a trade-off between citizens' well-being and money.

HB 2401 failed to pass out of committee with a 6--2 vote against the bill.

But marijuana legislation is by no means dead. In areas around the 
state, including WSU's campus, petitions are circling, which would 
put the issue on the state ballot.

The 2005 Supreme Court decision, Gonzales v. Raich, upheld the 
federal government's ability to prosecute any possessor of marijuana, 
including those who are following state law on medicinal marijuana 
possession. In essence, every state that has medical marijuana laws 
is violating federal regulation.

While states may have the ability to look the other way, they cannot 
legalize marijuana. Even when used medicinally, cannabis cards and 
prescriptions only protect users from state authorities -- the DEA 
can prosecute any person possessing pot.

This is why cannabis will never be truly legalized at the state 
level. Taxing a substance goes beyond decriminalization laws. It is 
likely the federal government will take offense to the generation of 
revenue from an illicit activity.

Even if federal officials turn a blind eye to cannabis taxation, the 
revenue generated is questionable.

Cannabis already has a thriving black market, and legalizing it will 
not remove the incentive for black market activity. The 15 percent 
difference is substantial, and enforcement will have to be stepped up 
to prevent "marijuana moonshining."

Furthermore, the health cost to the state will surely be more than 
the revenue generated by the tax. The revenue estimates also fail to 
take health effects into account. For instance, when the Netherlands 
legalized marijuana, usage tripled to 44 percent for 18 to 
20-year-olds, according to the DEA. That percentage is in line with 
smoking cigarettes.

Cigarettes cost the country $157 billion per year in health issues, 
according to the American Cancer Society. While pot advocates and 
dissidents debate the harmful health repercussions of marijuana, just 
10 percent of the cost of smoking would cancel out any revenue that 
the state derives -- not to mention the human cost of 
life-threatening ailments.

This tax on cannabis is not about revenue. The revenue is only an 
excuse to legalize marijuana. Even if the federal government allows 
our state to make money off an illegal practice, it will not save 
Washington state any money.

If lobbyists really want to legalize marijuana, they should argue 
about the importance of personal freedoms, not the money involved.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom