Comments on: Taxing medical marijuana–UPDATED

By: tulip

tulip — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:07:05 +0000

Marijuana was given to us by our creator, for medicine, whom some people want our creator taken out of everything, you see we can't take Him out because the food we eat, everything was created for us, you can turn a blind eye to Him. Everything belongs to Him.
Even the taxes are his, the way to governor, all was set up by our creator in beginning The Father gave all authority to His Son, which is, His Church, which is only in Christ. No other church can be set up other than one Christ set up and died for, which is for all people of all nations. Taxes, yes but not to harshly for all people too on medicines, homes, food and everything we use. But the government could cut their pay checks in half to put in public funds. Will they?

By: rogerbiggs

rogerbiggs — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:19:47 +0000

I completely agree with other posts on this forum that taxes should no be placed on medicine. For that reason, I *support a tax* on fully decriminalized marijuana for use medicinally or recreationally.

By: rogerbiggs

rogerbiggs — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:19:47 +0000

By: rogerbiggs

rogerbiggs — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:19:47 +0000

By: benito_a

benito_a — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:52:42 +0000

Excellent thought… and its up to the media in NM to correctly frame stories. Instead of “Dem group wants tax increase on wealthy” (AP Headline), we should understand that its really, “Legislative group calls for roll back on 2003 tax give-aways”.

Sen Griego is on to something with looking into the lopsided financial priorities within our universities… should also be applied to state political appointee shills.

By: Dr Benway

Dr Benway — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:04:13 +0000

Just a thought:
With a projected shortfall of $2.5 billion between 2009 and 2011, Oregon was on the verge of having to freeze salaries for public employees, end forest protection rules, and make deep cuts to education spending. However, Oregon progressives took action. Noting that their state has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the nation – the corporate minimum income tax is a paltry $10 a year – and that Oregon's wealthy have benefited enormously from years of conservative policies, activists – led by teachers and public employees' unions – organized around two ballot initiatives that would raise taxes on the upper-income tax bracket and corporations in order to close the budget gap. And this week, Oregon voters “handily” passed both measures. “It's not that it was targeted at the rich,” said Charles Sheketoff, executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy one of the groups that pushed for the tax increases. “It was targeted at the right people, those with the ability to pay. It made the system more progressive.” The result will secure $1 billion in funding for services while not raising taxes on 97.5 percent of taxpayers in Oregon and 93 percent of small business owners. “This wasn't about trying to soak the rich. This was about trying to protect the middle class. And it is the case that you have to ask those who can afford to, to pay a little more in order to do that,” said Kevin Looper, director of the Vote Yes campaign in support the ballot measures. Oregon is not the only state that has rejected the right wing's anti-tax philosophy. Twenty-nine states have “passed tax and fee increases totaling $24 billion this budget year, according to the National Governors Association, up from $1.5 billion a year earlier.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087…

By: johngalt333

johngalt333 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:14:39 +0000

What other medication gets a 25% excise tax levied on producers plus an additional tax paid by patients? Seems like phantom prohibition to me.

I've seen with my own eyes the reduced suffering of two family members who were battling terminal cancer and who used the herb to cut the nausea from chemotherapy. One did so years ago, illegally, and one is doing so now, within the law. There are other uses for it that harm no one, don't risk getting it into kids' hands, and have no worse social effects than alcohol, i.e. it can be abused but most often leads to no particular harm if used in moderation. I favor outright legalization and regulation as for alcohol myself, but for the moment we can stick to strictly medicinal use.

Taxing medicine at all is not acceptable, and to levy such a high tax is unconscionable. They're coping with enough already. Relieving human suffering should be the primary focus, not discouraging use or even raising revenue.

By: femaleexconvict

femaleexconvict — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:57:05 +0000

Very true, taxing medication? Overlook the fact that it's marijuana it's now medication!! Now, tax the cigarrettes, tax the alcohol, not something that cures sicknesses!! I am a smoker, so it would help alot of us quit! Think about it, people will just by the old fashion way in the streets helping drug dealers stay in business!

By: lslove

lslove — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:33:34 +0000

The only way for the State to make money from Marijuana is to legalize it for
recreational use. Then tax it. That is a whole other issue.
Taxing "medicine" is only going to drive up already high prices and take advantage of the sick most of whom can't afford their meds.
We will be back on the streets buying our meds and its already cheaper there then buying from a State authorized Producer.

Personally I believe this tax would be discriminating as our other medicine is not taxable and that should not change.
This proposal is a "Tax on Sick people".

Any politician who supports this Tax should be voted out of their job in the next election. I will certainly do my best to see that happen.

By: qofdisks

qofdisks — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:32:07 +0000

I would like to point out that if the cost of medical marijuana is too expensive for whatever reason, the purpose of restricting it's sale is defeated. Sick people in pain will buy their medicine on the street if they can not afford legitimate purchase. 400-800 plus other medical expenses per month is not affordable.