Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado • Hacker News Board

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#101

Post by jimbokun » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 12:55 AM UTC

fpgaminer wrote: post #66

AaronFriel wrote: post #34

This is good news and bad news. The funding for schools will be a boon to education in the state, and that's certainly not bad. However, I expect will almost certainly lead to decreased education funding from other revenue sources, and ultimately place education footing on less solid ground for years to come. It was brilliant PR move to earmark the tax revenue for education, there's no doubt about that. It's very har…

Sure, but we didn't earmarking marijuana taxes for education so that we could improve education. Any informed voter would know that. We did it so that we could get uninformed/uneducated voters to pass the legislation. Now, I don't mean "uninformed/uneducated voters" in a negative way. Most voters, even intelligent ones, are classed as uninformed/uneducated when it comes to most topics. Because really, who has time du…

Aren't Bill and Melinda Gates already the Bill and Melinda Gates of education?

"Our United States Division works to improve U.S. high school and postsecondary education and support vulnerable children and families in Washington State."

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#102

Post by ams6110 » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 1:06 AM UTC

TrevorJ wrote: post #94

pa5tabear wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're very wrong about educational funding. There's a high correlation between a schools relative wealth and its relative academic success in each state (mainly tied to property taxes). Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions, and yes there's lots of room for systematic improvement. But more money could absolutely make a difference at the underperforming schools.

I'm really curious if this is true, or if there's some correlation =/= causation stuff at play.

Your hunch is correct. Wealthy areas have a demographic that supports education. When kids have stable homes, with parents who care about them and their education, schools do well.

When kids move three or four times a year, never know if they are going to eat dinner that night, get beaten or ignored at home, have parents on drugs or in and out of jail, it doesn't matter how much money you pour into the schools.

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#103

Post by kentrado » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 1:36 AM UTC

SEJeff wrote: post #88

I've always thought that the biggest win of legalizing marijuana is simply that it keeps a lot of the low level thugs off of the street. You know, the run of the mill thugs who might or might not lace the marijuana with cocaine or something worse to keep users coming back? If it is legal to get those thugs will have to shift to the harder stuff which pushes them more underground and off of the most common streets. Th…

The good stuff that keeps users coming back is more expensive than the weed itself.

I wish mine was laced with coke. Haha.

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#104

Post by paulryanrogers » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 1:52 AM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #102

TrevorJ wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really curious if this is true, or if there's some correlation =/= causation stuff at play.

Your hunch is correct. Wealthy areas have a demographic that supports education. When kids have stable homes, with parents who care about them and their education, schools do well. When kids move three or four times a year, never know if they are going to eat dinner that night, get beaten or ignored at home, have parents on drugs or in and out of jail, it doesn't matter how much money you pour into the schools.

So if the parents are 'on' pot does that mean we've come full circle?

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#105

Post by gregpilling » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 2:28 AM UTC

fpgaminer wrote: post #66

AaronFriel wrote: post #34

This is good news and bad news. The funding for schools will be a boon to education in the state, and that's certainly not bad. However, I expect will almost certainly lead to decreased education funding from other revenue sources, and ultimately place education footing on less solid ground for years to come. It was brilliant PR move to earmark the tax revenue for education, there's no doubt about that. It's very har…

Sure, but we didn't earmarking marijuana taxes for education so that we could improve education. Any informed voter would know that. We did it so that we could get uninformed/uneducated voters to pass the legislation. Now, I don't mean "uninformed/uneducated voters" in a negative way. Most voters, even intelligent ones, are classed as uninformed/uneducated when it comes to most topics. Because really, who has time du…

I am in Arizona, one of the least funded states in terms of education. Your statement " accept donations from their teachers and parents," is slightly off here. In Arizona they DEMAND money. My free public school education came with a 'recommended' $1500 per year, per kid. They do accept payments however.

It is not mandatory, your kid is not expelled if you don't pay. But the school does very clearly say "this charter school has better teachers, because we pay bonuses out of the donation money". So I make payments, because the other choices would be private school (more $$), regular public school (less education), or homeschool (no.).

It is not 'accept donations' . Require, or demand. Personally, I make payments.

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#106

Post by gregpilling » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 2:30 AM UTC

Sir_Cmpwn wrote: post #61

s_dev wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Ireland in 2008 we were warned the only two industries that would remain unaffected by the looming recession were the funeral and cigarette manufacturing industry. The two were absolutely stable the entire time almost every other industry brought in less tax revenue/revenue. Sin taxes can be some of the most stable sources of income as in the case of cigarettes and this is more evident during times of downturn whe…

Death is inevitable. Cigarettes are addictive - there's a physiological impetus to continue smoking if you're addicted. Marijuana is significantly less addictive, and it takes very little willpower to stop using it during times of hardship.

I use marijuana as a pain killer alternative to opiate based pills. I can not stop using it, I have a chronic pain condition. My consumption exceeds the top 10 of my friends casual use. I don't think marijuana revenue will decline as much as you do.

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#107

Post by gregpilling » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 2:33 AM UTC

SEJeff wrote: post #88

I've always thought that the biggest win of legalizing marijuana is simply that it keeps a lot of the low level thugs off of the street. You know, the run of the mill thugs who might or might not lace the marijuana with cocaine or something worse to keep users coming back? If it is legal to get those thugs will have to shift to the harder stuff which pushes them more underground and off of the most common streets. Th…

I have never met the dealer like you describe. Most pot dealers are in love with weed, and want to talk all day long about this flower vs that one.

I would guess that you personally are not purchasing marijuana?

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#108

Post by robotresearcher » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 2:59 AM UTC

paulryanrogers wrote: post #104

ams6110 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your hunch is correct. Wealthy areas have a demographic that supports education. When kids have stable homes, with parents who care about them and their education, schools do well. When kids move three or four times a year, never know if they are going to eat dinner that night, get beaten or ignored at home, have parents on drugs or in and out of jail, it doesn't matter how much money you pour into the schools.

So if the parents are 'on' pot does that mean we've come full circle?

In states where pot is legalized, parents that smoke it will probably not be in jail.

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#109

Post by SEJeff » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 3:12 AM UTC

gregpilling wrote: post #107

SEJeff wrote: post #88

I've always thought that the biggest win of legalizing marijuana is simply that it keeps a lot of the low level thugs off of the street. You know, the run of the mill thugs who might or might not lace the marijuana with cocaine or something worse to keep users coming back? If it is legal to get those thugs will have to shift to the harder stuff which pushes them more underground and off of the most common streets. Th…

I have never met the dealer like you describe. Most pot dealers are in love with weed, and want to talk all day long about this flower vs that one. I would guess that you personally are not purchasing marijuana?

Guess it depends on where you or where your friends leave. A lot of my former Army buddies smoke marijuana to deal with PTSD. Several of them go to dealers just like I describe and are not the biggest fans of it.

Just because you've seen something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm by no means saying that is the norm, only that it definitely exists, and I'm all for any way of getting them away from people who just want to get baked.

Re: Marijuana tax take nearly double expected in Colorado

#110

Post by Sir_Cmpwn » Thu, Sep 17, 2015, 3:13 AM UTC

gregpilling wrote: post #106

Sir_Cmpwn wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Death is inevitable. Cigarettes are addictive - there's a physiological impetus to continue smoking if you're addicted. Marijuana is significantly less addictive, and it takes very little willpower to stop using it during times of hardship.

I use marijuana as a pain killer alternative to opiate based pills. I can not stop using it, I have a chronic pain condition. My consumption exceeds the top 10 of my friends casual use. I don't think marijuana revenue will decline as much as you do.

I would think that your anecdotal evidence wouldn't map to the actual circumstances very well. A strong majority of marijuana users in Colorado are recreational, and they can give it up without any physical consequences like you would face if they had to deal with difficult financial times.