Pubdate: Sat, 17 Oct 2015
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2015 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Robert J. Corry

SHOULD VOTERS PASS PROPOSITION BB AND LET STATE KEEP POT TAX MONEY?

In 2013, politicians duped many voters into supporting Proposition 
AA, a measure which imposed historically high taxes on retail 
marijuana. The pro-AA campaign vilified cannabis consumers and misled 
voters. Conversely, anti-AA consumer advocates predicted AA's unjust 
taxes would spawn a gray market in cannabis, and warned that the 
government was collecting illegally excessive tax revenue.

In 2015, we see AA's opponents were right. Colorado's unregulated 
cannabis market is bigger than ever. And as Proposition BB authors 
concede, AA collected unlawfully exorbitant taxes.

Under Colorado law, the state cannot keep surplus taxes without voter 
approval. When BB is defeated, every Colorado taxpayer (not just 
cannabis consumers) will receive a refund.

Coloradans know best how to spend their own money. Voting down BB 
will ensure $14.1 million is returned to taxpayers, not given to 
government coffers. Vote "no" on Proposition BB.

Denver The writer is chairman of the "No on Prop BB" campaign.

Robert J. Corry Jr.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom