Source: @norml @WeedConnection
Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com
media :: news - Tue, 29 Sep 2015 04:20:21 PST
Colorado: Marijuana Tax Revenue Surpasses That For Alcohol
Denver, CO: State taxes specific to the production and retail sale of marijuana totaled some $70 million in Colorado over the past twelve months -- nearly twice the amount collected for alcohol during this same period.
Financial data released this week by the Colorado Department of Revenue reports that state regulators collected $69,898,059 from marijuana-specific taxes from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. This total includes the collection of $43,938,721 from the imposition of a ten percent special sales tax on retail sales to adults, and $25,959,338 collected from the imposition of a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale transfers of marijuana intended for commercial sales. In comparison, the state raised just under $41,837,647 from alcohol-specific taxes during this same period, including $27,309,606 from excise taxes collected on spirited liquors, $8,881,349 from excise taxes on beer, and $5,646,692 from excise taxes collected on wine.
The majority of Colorado voters approved the imposition of cannabis-specific taxes (Proposition AA) in November 2013.
According to market research reported recently by Marijuana Business Daily, the average amount spent on marijuana in states where the drug is legal is $1,800 per year versus only $450 for alcohol.
In Washington, where retail cannabis sales began last summer, it is estimated that marijuana-specific tax revenues have generated $90 million in the past 15 months.
Study: Early Onset Marijuana Use Not Associated With Adverse Outcomes In Adulthood
Pittsburgh, PA: The use of marijuana by adolescents and young adults, including self-reported chronic use, is not positively associated with poorer quality of life outcomes later in life, according to an assessment of longitudinal data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Investigators from the Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Rutgers University prospectively examined whether male subjects who consumed cannabis between the ages of 15 and 26 differed in terms of socioeconomic, social, and life satisfaction outcomes by their mid-30s as compared to those who either abstained or used marijuana sparingly.
Authors reported that initially observed differences between the groups were largely eliminated once investigators controlled for co-occurring use of other substances and several pre-existing confounding factors in early adolescence.
They concluded: "After statistically accounting for confounding variables, chronic marijuana users were not at a heightened risk for maladjustment in adulthood except for lower SES (socioeconomic status) among Black men."
A previous analysis of the data by investigators reported that the youth use of cannabis was not positively associated with a heightened risk of developing physical and mental health problems in adulthood after authors adjusted for confounding variables.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Divergent marijuana trajectories among men: Socioeconomic, relationship, and life satisfaction outcomes in the mid-30s," appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Ohio: Toledo Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Municipal Depenalization Measure
Toledo, OH: Voters decided by a margin of more than 2 to 1 to approve a municipal ballot measure removing criminal and civil penalties associated with minor marijuana possession offenses. The vote took place last Tuesday during a special city election.
Ballot Issue 1, the "Sensible Marijuana Ordinance" amends the city's municipal code to eliminate the threat of jail or fines for those found within city limits to be in the possession of up to 200 grams of marijuana, and/or up to 10 grams of hashish or concentrates, and/or up to 2 grams of liquid concentrates. The measure also eliminates penalties for the possession of marijuana paraphernalia. It also prohibits the city from suspending one's driver's license as a punishment for violating marijuana possession laws.
State law classifies the possession of up to 100 grams of cannabis as a minor criminal misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $150. Marijuana possession offenses involving more than 100 grams but less than 200 grams are punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. In addition, under Ohio law, any conviction for possession of a controlled substance is subject to driver's license revocation for no less than 6 months and no more than five years.
Representatives from Northwest Ohio NORML, which assisted in spearheading the effort, have said that they are planning similar efforts in additional cities. Implementation of the Toledo ordinance is anticipated to take place on October 5.
Florida: West Palm Beach Provides Cops With Marijuana Decriminalization Option
West Palm Beach, FL: City officials last week approved a municipal ordinance providing police with the option to cite, rather than arrest, minor marijuana possession offenders.
Under the new policy, those over the age of 18 found with 20 grams or less of cannabis within city limits face a $100 civil penalty. By contrast, state law classifies similar possession offenses as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a criminal record.
West Palm Beach joins several other Florida localities that have recently adopted similar municipal measures, including Miami-Dade county, Miami Beach, and Key West.
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