Its about time we take away the power that the drug cartels have by removing the black market. I mean who likes to deal with shady people just to get weed. Bottom line, prohibition does not work.
Why tax and regulate?
1. revenue–excise tax, corporations tax (dispensary), state sales tax, state income tax
2. savings–law enforcement savings
3. environment–no more national forest for grow ops, they want remote areas because it is illegal in the city, allow people to grow it, and the need for these remote, destructive locations becomes obsolete.
4. sound public policy that supports public opinion
California Television Ad for Taxation and Regulation of Marijuana Sales.
Potential 6.2 Billion Dollars of Revenue, Prohibition doesn’t work–people smoke weed.
Raising City Revenue by Ending the ‘Wasteful War on Drugs’
Every year California spends $150 million to arrest, prosecute and imprison marijuana offenders. It makes more economic sense to raise money by taxing and regulating the adult use of marijuana, instead of spending money to criminalize it. Revenue raised will help pay for vital city services like schools, libraries, and health care. If adopted statewide, revenues raised could be up to $2.5 billion.
GrassRoots Legalization: Measure Z and State Prop 215
Are you aware that the city of Oakland, CA first legalized Medical Marijuana with Measure Z–a city ordinance? Creating a patient ID card program and certified growers before the state law was passed, Prop 215.
http://www.taxandregulate.org/measurez.htm find out how to legalize pot in your own town
Oakland’s Alternative to the Failed War on Drugs
The federal government’s war on drugs has been costly, ineffective, and unjust. Criminalizing cannabis (marijuana) has unfairly imprisoned thousands of non-violent offenders, including a disproportionate number of people of color. Measure Z would make private adult marijuana offenses the lowest police priority in Oakland, and directs the city to support changes in public policy regarding marijuana with the aim of regulating, licensing and taxing its sales to adults as soon as possible under California law.
Improving Law Enforcement, Reducing Crime
Measure Z allows Oakland police to focus their time and resources on fighting violent crime and reducing the murder rate, instead of wasting it on adult nonviolent marijuana offenses. Measure Z would help break the hold that drug traffickers have on our neighborhoods by allowing marijuana to be sold by licensed businesses, keeping it off the streets, and out of the hands of dangerous criminals. Reducing law enforcement costs and time spent on busting small time marijuana users means increased attention and funds dealing with the serious threats facing our community.
Controlling, not Criminalizing Marijuana
Measure Z controls marijuana sales; it does not legalize sales on the streets, near schools or to minors. Measure Z does not promote marijuana use, allow broadcast or billboard advertising, or smoking in public.
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Broad Based Support for ‘Solutions’ Not ‘Wars’
Community groups, elected officials, educators, religious leaders, and doctors all agree: Measure Z is the right thing to do. Supporters include the California Nurses Association, the Metropolitan Greater Oakland (MGO) Democratic Club, Family Council on Drug Awareness, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, State Senator Don Perata, California Superior Court Judge James P. Gray, Alameda County Supervisors Nate Miley and Keith Carson, and Oakland City Council members Nancy Nadel and Desley Brooks.
