MA: New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act (Statute)

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act

1. The Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act is hereby repealed.

2. There shall be a 20% tax increase on all marijuana substances in the Mideast.

3. a) 50% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the Mideast Victim Compensation Act.

b) 45% of the money collected by this tax shall be used for the establishment of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center, which shall be supervised by the Mideast Department of Health. The main task of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center is to inform the public on the harmful effects of marijuana and organize regular marijuana prevention activities in public schools.

c) 5% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the creation of community murals as specified in Section 3 in the Keep our Region Clean and Free from Vandalism Act.

Sponsor: ZuWo

[ZuWo]

Fellow Assemblymen, a few points need explaining.

First of all, I'm generally against raising taxes since I want our economy to remain prosperous. That's why I remain strongly opposed to the idea of raising taxes on businesses and hard-working people. However, I regard a tax hike on marijuana as justifiable for three main reasons:

- There may be a certain prevention effect when it becomes more expensive to buy marijuana
- Our region can use the additional money for the projects outlined in Section 3 of this Act - these are projects which I think serve a noble purpose
- Raising taxes on marijuana does not have the same detrimental effect on our economy as raising taxes on businesses or a large number of people would - this tax only affects a small minority of the population

[A-Bob]

I'm for the tax increase.

[Jayhawker]

Hmm, undecided. We all know I could get behind cigarettes, though.

[ZuWo]

Hmm, undecided. We all know I could get behind cigarettes, though.

Would you like to see an amendment to the bill?

[Jayhawker]

Hmm, undecided. We all know I could get behind cigarettes, though.

Would you like to see an amendment to the bill?

I'll have to think on it for a few hours. I'm not sure if I'm for 20%. Is there presently a tax on it?

[ZuWo]

Hmm, undecided. We all know I could get behind cigarettes, though.

Would you like to see an amendment to the bill?

I'll have to think on it for a few hours. I'm not sure if I'm for 20%. Is there presently a tax on it?

The current Marijuana Taxation Act says this:

1. Whereas, the consumption of marijuana is legal, in accordance with FL 6-19, the Marijuana Legalization and Taxation Act.
2. There shall be a 10% tax increase on all marijuana substances in the Mideast
3. All money collected by this tax shall fund The Mideast Victim Compensation Act.
4. The 1% sales tax increase on gun purchases set in The Mideast Victim Compensation Act, is hereby repealed.

___________________________________________________________________________

I assume this is based on an existing marijuana tax in the ME, though I couldn't find any concrete bill in the wiki that regulates marijuana taxation. Also, in the ME budget thread a tax on marijuana is listed on the revenue page. The only problem is that the budget has not been passed yet.
So, based on the current marijuana taxation act I assume that there must be a tax in place. But where can we read up on it?

[Jayhawker]

If we repealed the bill that repealed the gun tax, would that reinstate it? Because we certainly don't want that.

[ZuWo]

If we repealed the bill that repealed the gun tax, would that reinstate it? Because we certainly don't want that.

I don't think so. In my understanding, once a bill is repealed it remains repealed untill it is passed and explicitly reinstated by the same chamber again.

[ZuWo]

According to GM shua, these two federal tax bills on marijuana are in effect:

http://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/National_Sin_Tax_Act
http://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Amendment_to_the_Marijuana_Legalization_and_Taxation_Act

But since these are federal taxes, I guess the tax increase mentioned in this bill, which is a specifically ME piece of legislation, has nothing to do with them ... is that correct?

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Any amendments?

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I'm opposed to this for several reasons.

1. I'm opposed to the increase.
2. I'm opposed to subsection b).
3. I'm opposed to the repeal of the gun tax increase.

[ZuWo]

I'm opposed to this for several reasons.

1. I'm opposed to the increase.
2. I'm opposed to subsection b).
3. I'm opposed to the repeal of the gun tax increase.

Just to get it right, do you approve of the 1% tax increase that the Mideast Victim Compensation Act established or not (since I assume you're not in favor of higher taxes I assume "no")? Because in the old Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act, that 1% tax increase was repealed.

If anything, I could propose an amendment to this New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act that specifies that said tax increase remains repealed. That'd be no problem to me.

Point 1 and 2 you listed are not negiotiable, though.

[TJ in Wisco]

I propose this amendment to make doubly sure we aren't reinstating the gun tax.

Meanwhile, we really need a budget for any of this to make sense.

New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act

1. The Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act is hereby repealed. The 1% gun tax repealed in the Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act will remain repealed.

2. There shall be a 20% tax increase on all marijuana substances in the Mideast.

3. a) 50% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the Mideast Victim Compensation Act.

b) 45% of the money collected by this tax shall be used for the establishment of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center, which shall be supervised by the Mideast Department of Health. The main task of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center is to inform the public on the harmful effects of marijuana and organize regular marijuana prevention activities in public schools.

c) 5% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the creation of community murals as specified in Section 3 in the Keep our Region Clean and Free from Vandalism Act.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I'm opposed to this for several reasons.

1. I'm opposed to the increase.
2. I'm opposed to subsection b).
3. I'm opposed to the repeal of the gun tax increase.

Just to get it right, do you approve of the 1% tax increase that the Mideast Victim Compensation Act established or not (since I assume you're not in favor of higher taxes I assume "no")? Because in the old Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act, that 1% tax increase was repealed.

If anything, I could propose an amendment to this New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act that specifies that said tax increase remains repealed. That'd be no problem to me.

Point 1 and 2 you listed are not negiotiable, though.

I'm opposed to an increase on the gun tax.

[ZuWo]

I propose this amendment to make doubly sure we aren't reinstating the gun tax.

Meanwhile, we really need a budget for any of this to make sense.

New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act

1. The Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act is hereby repealed. The 1% gun tax repealed in the Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act will remain repealed.

2. There shall be a 20% tax increase on all marijuana substances in the Mideast.

3. a) 50% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the Mideast Victim Compensation Act.

b) 45% of the money collected by this tax shall be used for the establishment of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center, which shall be supervised by the Mideast Department of Health. The main task of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center is to inform the public on the harmful effects of marijuana and organize regular marijuana prevention activities in public schools.

c) 5% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the creation of community murals as specified in Section 3 in the Keep our Region Clean and Free from Vandalism Act.

That's an amendment that I support. If necessary, I accept it as friendly.

[ZuWo]

In other words, it would be good to have a vote on TJ's amendment.

The amendment clarifies the gun tax issue, and I fully support that.

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

In other words, it would be good to have a vote on TJ's amendment.

The amendment clarifies the gun tax issue, and I fully support that.

If we are raising taxes on this, is there somewhere we could cut spending or another tax cut in the budget? Also can there be a discinction to where this is not applied to other hemp based purchases?

[shua]

Did you ever figure out what the baseline is for the previous tax that's being increased by a percentage? If not, I'd suggest just setting a new tax rate

[TJ in Wisco]

Shua's right, we need to actually set a marijuana tax before we can change it. I'd say we try a 25% tax on marijuana sales. I have no idea if that's low or high, so feel free to weigh in

New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act

1. The Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act is hereby repealed. The 1% gun tax repealed in the Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act will remain repealed.

2. There shall be a 20% tax increase on all All marijuana substances in the Mideast shall be subject to a 25% tax levied on the price of the sale.

3. a) 50% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the Mideast Victim Compensation Act.

b) 45% of the money collected by this tax shall be used for the establishment of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center, which shall be supervised by the Mideast Department of Health. The main task of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center is to inform the public on the harmful effects of marijuana and organize regular marijuana prevention activities in public schools.

c) 5% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the creation of community murals as specified in Section 3 in the Keep our Region Clean and Free from Vandalism Act.

[ZuWo]

You know, a marijuana tax can't be high enough for me ...

[ZuWo]

Speaker, I fully support TJ's latest amendment. We could have a vote on it ...

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Voting is now open on the following amendment.  Members will vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.  This will be a 48-hour vote:

New Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act

1. The Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act is hereby repealed. The 1% gun tax repealed in the Mideast Marijuana Taxation Act will remain repealed.

2. There shall be a 20% tax increase on all All marijuana substances in the Mideast shall be subject to a 25% tax levied on the price of the sale.

3. a) 50% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the Mideast Victim Compensation Act.

b) 45% of the money collected by this tax shall be used for the establishment of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center, which shall be supervised by the Mideast Department of Health. The main task of the Mideast Cannabis Prevention Center is to inform the public on the harmful effects of marijuana and organize regular marijuana prevention activities in public schools.

c) 5% of the money collected by this tax shall fund the creation of community murals as specified in Section 3 in the Keep our Region Clean and Free from Vandalism Act.

[ZuWo]

Aye!

[TJ in Wisco]

Aye