Smoke dope and save the state of California, dude

Friday Jul 10, 2009
By Guy Adams

It has been touted as a successful treatment for everything from insomnia and depression to Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Now supporters of legalised marijuana are making perhaps their most extravagant claim yet: that the drug can solve California's spiralling financial crisis.

A series of television ads was launched yesterday supporting a bill by Democratic assemblyman Tom Ammiano that would regulate and tax the sale of marijuana in the Golden State, where Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration is in a US$26bn (NZ$41bn) black hole.

The 30-second film features an "actual marijuana user". She is a retired, 58-year-old civil servant called Nadine Herndon, shown in front of her family portraits at home in Sacramento County, where she began using the drug after suffering a series of strokes three years ago.

"Huge cuts to police, schools and healthcare are inevitable, due to California's budget crisis. Even our state parks could be closed," she says. "But the Governor and legislature are ignoring millions of Californians who want to pay taxes. We're marijuana users. Instead of being treated like criminals for using a substance safer than alcohol, we want to pay our fair share."

<SNIP>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10583650

themselves what the % tax on their pot should be, and then pay that amount on their state taxes.

Seriously, what idiot is going to pay a voluntary tax?

hold against dealers. The day it took effect, there were a few people standing in line to pay it (not dealers).

But if you're advocating for a tax on pot, there's nothing stopping a person from paying it voluntarily in CA!

:smoke: