Maryland Democratic Governor candidate Heather R. Mizeur came out in support of marijuana legalization and using the money it brings in to pay for pre-Kindergarten education. According to her plan, marijuana legalization could generate up to $157.5 million in new revenue each year. According to the Washington Post:
“Marijuana’s time as a controlled, illegal substance has run its course,” Mizeur says in her plan. “Marijuana laws ruin lives, are enforced with racial bias and distract law enforcement from serious and violent crimes. … A Maryland with legalized, regulated and taxed marijuana will mean safer communities, universal early childhood education and fewer citizens unnecessarily exposed to our criminal justice system.”
Under Mizeur’s plan for legalization, marijuana would be subject to an excise tax of $50 per ounce at the point of sale between cultivators and retailers. There would also be a 6 percent sales tax and 2 percent excise tax at the point of sale.
I expect candidates to come out more and more in support of marijuana reform now that it’s the hip thing to do. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. I remember a good friend of mine who is a lobbyist here in Oregon told me that politicians would never come out in support of marijuana. “It is political suicide.” he would always tell me. Well what about now Joel!? It’s only a matter of time before marijuana is legalized nationwide!
