One of my biggest fears about marijuana legalization at the state level was that it would come with such a hefty tax that it would never reach it’s full potential. Marijuana legalization opponents know this, and know that the battle isn’t over. We need to keep fighting. Below is a petition urging Boulder, Colorado leaders to not double tax marijuana. I encourage everyone to sign it to help send a message that this is not what was intended when voters passed Amendment 64. You can sign the petition here:
Mayor Appelbaum and Members of the Boulder City Council;
When the voters of Colorado approved Amendment 64, I believed that our elected officials understood that our message was clear; end marijuana prohibition, make retail marijuana available to adults with deliberate speed, and use the revenues for school construction. Instead we have seen the General Assembly ask for revenues far beyond the Constitution and a steady stream of local taxes with no clear indication that any city will be prepared to allow retail marijuana sales to adults on January 1, 2014.
I write to you today to express that the patience of this voter is now exhausted. I am troubled by the Denver tax proposal and doubly troubled by the Boulder double tax. This frustration may cause me to withdraw my support of the state tax measures as well.
My specific concern is that these extraordinary taxes are going to be used against the very purpose of Amendment 64. Boulder is considering a 10% sales tax and 15% excise tax to be used to “prohibit or discourage use and accessibility; (and) social norming campaigns to reduce social acceptability” of a product that Boulder voters legalized by a 3-1 margin. The city also wants to use these revenues for treatment programs even though 80% of substance abuse treatment admittances are for alcohol while only 8% are for marijuana -the majority of which due to a court order related to possession that is now legal. State law requires persons ordered to treatment to enter treatment at their own expense. Amendment 64 was the “Campaign to regulate marijuana like alcohol”. The Boulder proposal doesn’t even regulate marijuana like marijuana!
I would agree that public education on the responsible use of marijuana, as well as alcohol is important as we move into post prohibition. Unfortunately the Boulder proposal would only continue the misinformation of prohibition while depriving Boulder residents of the testing, labeling and childproof packaging that would only be available if regulated retail marijuana sales are available. There is only one beneficiary of the Boulder proposal … the Black Market.
Because I am clear about why I voted for Amendment 64, I ask you to vote NO on the sales and excise tax proposal.
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