Pubdate: Thu, 03 Oct 2013
Source: Durango Herald, The (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Durango Herald
Contact: http://durangoherald.com/write_the_editor/
Website: http://durangoherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/866
Author: Joe Hanel

CONTRIBUTORS NOT HIGH ON POT TAX

Difference Is No National Money Like 2012

DENVER - Marijuana businesses pledged to lawmakers this year that 
they would be there to support a tax initiative in order to fund 
enough inspectors and regulators to keep the pot industry clean.

But until Wednesday night, the industry had contributed just $100 to 
the Proposition AA campaign. That compares with the $1.8 million 
raised in 2012 to legalize marijuana in Colorado.

The fundraising will change dramatically thanks to a $1,000-a-head 
event headlined by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday evening. At 
least 40 people - including many marijuana trade group lobbyists - 
appeared to be in attendance.

Still, with two weeks until ballots go out in the mail and just more 
than a month to Election Day, the campaign for and against the pot 
tax has been a low-dollar affair compared with last year's campaign 
to legalize pot.

"The big difference is national money versus local money," said Rick 
Ridder, head of the pro-Prop AA campaign.

The Marijuana Policy Project and other out-of-state groups supplied 
more than $1 million to the legalization campaign. They're sitting 
out of the Prop AA race.

The measure seeks a 10 percent retail sales tax  which the 
Legislature can raise to 15 percent  along with a 15 percent 
wholesale excise tax on recreational marijuana. Most or all of the 
excise tax would go to school construction, while the sales tax would 
be used to fund the state's marijuana enforcement division.

"We're feeling generally very positive. We get good feedback on the 
streets," Ridder said.

But at Wednesday's fundraiser, Hickenlooper exhorted the crowd to do 
more and raise more money.

"I am always, in any election, nervous as a cat," Hickenlooper said.

Neither side has paid for an opinion poll.

Opponents, too, have next to no money. The anti-Prop AA campaign had 
raised just $1,846 as of Monday.

But opponents are making up for it through "street theater"  namely, 
campaign events that include passing out free joints as police officers watch.

Rob Corry, a leader of the anti-tax campaign, and several dozen pot 
activists gathered Wednesday outside Hickenlooper's fundraiser at the 
Denver Beer Co. After a tense but respectful discussion with police 
officers about what the state's marijuana laws do and don't allow, 
Corry turned to the crowd.

"All right! Should we start handing out some free marijuana? That's 
what we're here for," Corry said.

High taxes will force pot sales back into the black market, Corry said.

"It would be a horrible setback for what the voters wanted, which is 
a functioning market in marijuana. This would make it dysfunctional," he said.

But proponents say that responsible pot businesses need the tax to 
make sure the industry is well-regulated.

"I think it's safe to say they're an extreme minority," said Brian 
Vicente, a leader of the pro-Prop AA campaign. "They're sort of the 
tea party of this movement. They have an extreme view that in some 
ways risks bringing down the entire system."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom