Pubdate: Tue, 24 Dec 2002
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Patricia Schwarz
Note: Headline by MAP editor.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

TAX MARIJUANA TRADE FOR STATE REVENUE

California is facing a terrible budget crunch, and poor families and 
students of all ages are going to take it on the chin. When we go looking 
for sources of tax revenue, what about the giant gobs of money in the 
marijuana trade? So far only the police departments and the prison unions 
are able to benefit financially from California's biggest cash crop, yet 
they do this at taxpayer expense.

The marijuana trade in California is more than big enough to pay for the 
social costs of marijuana abuse and for the shortfalls in the rest of our 
state budget. Why are we letting this vast source of revenue go untaxed?

Patricia Schwarz, Pasadena
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager