HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-Type: text/html Motion Calls For Taxation Of Legal Marijuana 
Pubdate: Tue, 22 Feb 2005
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MOTION CALLS FOR TAXATION OF LEGAL MARIJUANA

OTTAWA -- Delegates to the Liberal party convention next month will debate 
a motion to legalize and tax marijuana sales, saying it would bring in 
billions in new tax revenue. Parliament is already debating legislation to 
decriminalize marijuana, but a resolution by Alberta Liberals would go much 
further. It would tax the proceeds of legalized pot sales, which the 
resolution says would bring in $3 billion in revenue each year.

"Legalizing marijuana would be a serious blow to drug dealers and organized 
crime financially," says the resolution for the March 5-6 gathering.

"Resolved that a portion of these tax revenues be used to educate youth 
against drug use and to provide treatment for those who are adversely 
affected by use of marijuana."

It's just one of dozens of policy proposals obtained by The Canadian Press 
that will be debated by delegates to the Ottawa convention.

Another resolution, from British Columbia, asks for stiffer sentences for 
those involved in marijuana grow-ops. Meanwhile, a party group called the 
Senior Liberals Commission is asking delegates to urge the government to 
enact legislation to respect "alternative forms of social lifestyle," but 
to not alter the definition of marriage.

But Liberal youth activists are working on a campaign called "It's the 
Charter, Stupid," with rallies and demonstrations to lobby delegates to 
support the government's same-sex marriage legislation before Parliament.

Some resolutions will be chosen as priority issues and will automatically 
be included for a vote by all delegates. Others must make it through debate 
in a workshop in order to be presented for approval or defeat by all delegates.
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MAP posted-by: Beth