Pubdate: Mon, 28 Oct 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Bobbie Heisterkamp

SUPPORT FOR STATE POT TAXES

The citizens of Colorado legalized the personal use of marijuana last 
year, and now the state and local governments face the challenge of 
carefully regulating the sale of recreational marijuana. In order to 
fund that, Proposition AA was submitted by the Colorado legislature. 
It imposes a 10 percent sales tax on the sale of all recreational 
marijuana products, but does not change the current tax on medical 
marijuana. It also imposes a 15 percent excise tax on the wholesale 
price of cultivated marijuana. The first $40 million collected from 
the excise tax revenue will be given to the Public School Capital 
Construction Fund to build new schools and repair existing schools.

Responsible regulation of marijuana sales is essential and expensive. 
Without the additional sales tax and excise tax, the state would be 
forced to get money from the over-stretched General Fund. The League 
of Women Voters of Colorado supports this measure.

Bobbie Heisterkamp, Denver The writer is president of the League of 
Women Voters of Colorado.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom