I feel like this article assumes a ton of context. I guess Colorado has a tax free day today? I had to infer that from article, since it doesn't explain it, just references some "accounting error". Which might be the prediction being off? Who knows!
Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
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Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#12>Tax collected on marijuana sales came to $70 million (does not give the time period) How much does Colorado collect in taxes on cigarettes and alcohol? I can't find any numbers to put this into context.
Colorado collected $42 million in alcohol taxes over the same time period. http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/15/colorado-just-became-the-f...
Seems like their alcohol taxes are far too low, considering how much more harmful alcohol is versus marijuana.
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#13Yeah, it'd be interesting to also see how much less / more policing is required, drug rehab programs, anti-drug programs, loss economic behavior due to increased drug use, diversion of consumption from other taxable goods to MJ (say a decrease in alchohol tax revenue), etc. Hopefully much less policing is required, but I don't think it was particularly policed all that much to begin with. In fact, policing tax collec…
These are critical parameters that we're completely blind to. I'm pro-legalization myself, because I think the data will ultimately support it as being the best option, but we need to check that hypothesis with reality.
Shouldn't there be an aspect of "what is right?" Just because taxes are more or less, revenues increase or decrease, we were putting a huge financial burden and physical burden on a drug that is no worse than alcohol. I think that is the top consideration, what is right, not which way is more financially helpful.
(Not trying to be argumentative here, sorry if it sounds that way. It feels like this point is heavily missed)
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#14Chicago and Detroit should take note. Allow drugs and tax the hell out that sh .
Detroit decriminalized possession (up to 1 oz.) in 2012 to reduce police work.
I'm agreeing with you, they should (I'd rather it be statewide). I'm just offering clarification, it wouldn't be a large spending decrease in terms of enforcement.
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#15Yeah, it'd be interesting to also see how much less / more policing is required, drug rehab programs, anti-drug programs, loss economic behavior due to increased drug use, diversion of consumption from other taxable goods to MJ (say a decrease in alchohol tax revenue), etc. Hopefully much less policing is required, but I don't think it was particularly policed all that much to begin with. In fact, policing tax collec…
I think also couching legalization in term of economics might be setting things up for failure and it might make better sense to say it's just philosophically the right thing to do(??)
Policies like this are almost always better-off as economic rather than moral proposals.
It's hard to get people to agree to what's right, whereas it is distressingly easy to get people to agree to what's profitable.
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#16Chicago and Detroit should take note. Allow drugs and tax the hell out that sh .
If you tax it too much, I'd imagine that'd increase viability for a black market.
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#17I feel like this article assumes a ton of context. I guess Colorado has a tax free day today? I had to infer that from article, since it doesn't explain it, just references some "accounting error". Which might be the prediction being off? Who knows!
Yes, CO has a tax free day on cannabis only. My understanding is they reaped too much in taxes and their laws are such that they have to give the overage back. The tax-free day is a way to do that.
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Colorado collected $42 million in alcohol taxes over the same time period. http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/15/colorado-just-became-the-f...
Seems like their alcohol taxes are far too low, considering how much more harmful alcohol is versus marijuana.
Or their marijuana tax is too high (as it were).
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
These are critical parameters that we're completely blind to. I'm pro-legalization myself, because I think the data will ultimately support it as being the best option, but we need to check that hypothesis with reality.
Shouldn't there be an aspect of "what is right?" Just because taxes are more or less, revenues increase or decrease, we were putting a huge financial burden and physical burden on a drug that is no worse than alcohol. I think that is the top consideration, what is right, not which way is more financially helpful. (Not trying to be argumentative here, sorry if it sounds that way. It feels like this point is heavily mi…
I think a big part of the focus on tax revenue is "marketing". I only say that because a decent subsection of US society would oppose cannabis (or any recreational drug) on principle if it was only a moral issue. By focusing on more objective benefits, legalization proponents are able to bypass some of the "moral" opposition.
Basically, for people like me, morality would dictate that it's wrong to arrest or imprison a person for doing something that is, at worst, a bit unhealthy. Still, just as many people split the other way and think it's immoral to promote "vice" at all. The balance may shift but it's there.
Contrast that with the economic argument and you'll have a hard time finding people who would choose revenue going to the black market over funding something useful or lowering the tax burden on those who don't buy cannabis.
Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Colorado collected $42 million in alcohol taxes over the same time period. http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/15/colorado-just-became-the-f...
Seems like their alcohol taxes are far too low, considering how much more harmful alcohol is versus marijuana.
If that's all the tax is meant to do, offset harm. Which is only one small part of the story, I imagine.