Democrats seek to give states say over marijuana, levy tax

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Democrats seek to give states say over marijuana, levy tax

By Susan Heavey
WASHINGTON | Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:30pm EST

(Reuters) - The states would be free to decide whether to legalize marijuana without running afoul of federal law but would require purchasers to pay federal taxes on its sale under legislation being proposed by two Democratic lawmakers.

The proposed bills in the House of Representatives aim to offer a new federal policy toward pot, amid a growing movement to legalize it for personal use, whether recreational or medical.

Representatives Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Jared Polis of Colorado, both Democrats, planned to introduce the legislation on Tuesday.

One bill would end a federal ban on marijuana and give states jurisdiction over its use and regulate it in a similar way to alcohol sales, while the other would levy a federal tax, the congressmen said in a statement.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-usa-marijuana-congress-idUSBRE9140W820130205

[libdem4life]

1. Just the fact this has gotten to a real bill says a lot. It starts with the government wanting to

get their hands on taxes, next, enter the tobacco and agribusiness corporations for their profit. Also will free up a lot of very expensive prison cells. Then, suddenly, yea almost magically, the Hated Herb will be Loved and all the past fades away in a kind of Fuzzy Haze of Glory.

[Sunlei]

3. good idea, why should states glom on 100% of the tax revenue, and huge permit fees.

first thing the states will do when someone sets up a pot farm and sells without the tax stamp is call the Feds to bust them.