Virginia studying cost savings of pot legalization
There have been a number of academic studies investigating two main aspects of the fiscal benefits of legal pot: the tax revenues gained, and the money saved from police, courts and corrections not having to deal with marijuana violators anymore. I’ve waded through many of these analyses.And combining the data from the most definitive of these studies, here is my fiscal starting point: Virginia could reap more than $250 million a year in “sin tax” revenues on regulated marijuana sales, and save another $245 million in enforcement costs. That’s roughly $500 million a year. Granted, Virginia’s statewide budget is about $42 billion a year. But $500 million would build and fix a lot of roads and buy a lot of classroom computers.
Englin’s bill calls for the formation of a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of selling marijuana through state ABC stores, the same way Virginia has monopolized liquor sales, and the “potential revenue impact upon the Commonwealth.” The subcommittee could spend no more than $15,040.
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Riiiiiiggghhhttt. A bill proposed by one of those "liberal commie NoVa pinko Commies"? Even if it is only to study the feasibility?
This is DOA
But the state IS heavily invested in gambling. The state lottery is a pretty big part of the whole revenue collection engine.
I think Paleocon is right about pretty much everything. -- Mex
Paleocon is entirely right --DanB
I agree with everything that Paleocon said... --Boudreaux
Paleo is right on. --Legion
I love Paleocon. --- SallyNasty
And they would possibly run it through the state monopoly ABC stores and the poorer rural parts of the state could grow the crop..
Logic loses to "tough on crime" politicians
The criminalization of pot has never been about logic.
The states should have the right to do whatever they want regarding pot without the threat that the Feds could swoop in anytime and enforce its criminalization. I still hold out hope that in my lifetime it will be made legal for recreational use on a federal and state (NJ) level.
"There should be a help line that criminals could call to check out the viability of their plans. Just have them describe their plan, and then the help desk employee could explain, "No, that is a stupid plan. You will get caught immediately." -Funkenpants
And here's where we watch the Libertarian wing crash into the social conservative wing.
Republicans being against sex is not good. Sex is popular. -- GOP political strategist Alex Castellanos
If by crash, you mean fold like a wet napkin..
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Quote:
and, depending on the outcome of the budget study, the fiscal conservative wing.
I think Paleocon is right about pretty much everything. -- Mex
Paleocon is entirely right --DanB
I agree with everything that Paleocon said... --Boudreaux
Paleo is right on. --Legion
I love Paleocon. --- SallyNasty
There's still a fiscal conservative wing of the GOP? I thought they were hunted to extinction long ago.
Yonder wrote:
We've been up in the caves of Tora Bora for a while and the MRE's are running out, but there are still a few of us around.
I think Paleocon is right about pretty much everything. -- Mex
Paleocon is entirely right --DanB
I agree with everything that Paleocon said... --Boudreaux
Paleo is right on. --Legion
I love Paleocon. --- SallyNasty
And now our CIA lurker has Paleocon marked as a terrorist. In the extreme off-chance he had not done so already.
Steam
Teabagger support in the MD statehouse for medical marijuana is iffy, but there's some flexibility once they add amendments saying marijuana has to be administered via vaporizer or several other approved forms. So they're in favor of limited use of marijuana to alleviate medical symptoms as long as people don't, y'know, enjoy it. Or, presumably, associate with Negroes in jazz clubs.
As for VA, I don't think the stars are right: Cooch would find a way to kill such an initiative.
Quote:
— SpacePPoliceman, on Joe Paterno and responsibilitySomeone incredibly similar to myself has stated that vaporizers are quite enjoyable.
pretend boogle wrote:
drdoak wrote:
Well, making prostitution illegal has certainly removed it from society.
I still think the four counties of Northern Virginia should do what the western portion did and secede to form their own state. I realize there is a rural/urban divide in many states, but the divide between the outer parts of VA and NoVA itself is HUUUUUUUUGE.
"Sometimes loving your country requires you to put your penis in a congressional staffer."
--Funkenpants
Wonder what Altria has to $ay about all of this.
Steam: mrtomaytohead
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Backloggery
I think that extra 40$ in the study's budget is going to make all the difference.
Seriously? Why not just say an even $16k. $15,040?
Being fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.
Hell make it medical only just make the tests like this
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/4/15/
I am not 100% but I am pretty sure that the comic is accurate from friends I talk to out on the west coast.
Bear wrote:
Headaches, back pain, and insomnia are very popular reasons for a medical marijuana license in my state. They're also very popular reasons for sick days during times of great weather.
The Michigan Beer Blog
Hell I am in grand rapids and Detroit twice a month, and I have all of those, I don't suppose they do out of state licenses
Bear wrote:
Jazz clubs are actually legal in Virginia?!
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Republicans being against sex is not good. Sex is popular. -- GOP political strategist Alex Castellanos