House poised to pass bill legalizing marijuana

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The House is poised to pass legislation this week that would legalize marijuana, just the latest example of the swiftly changing attitudes on drug laws that marks a near reversal from the Reagan-era war on drugs that also reverberated through the 1990s.

The bill legalizing marijuana has near-uniform support among Democrats and a top ally in Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), who has been aiming to introduce a similar measure this spring.

And it's just one of several pieces of legislation that underlines the shift in Congress's attitude - a change that has come about in part because of the way past drug laws have disproportionately hit minority communities.

"This Congress represents a sea change," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-poised-to-pass-bill-legalizing-marijuana/ar-AAVzm4z

[Emile]

1. About time! Been a long time coming!

[RussBLib]

2. it will pass the House, but...

... the Senate is not a lock. Time to lobby your own 2 Senators to vote aye.

[Emile]

5. I don't know why any senator would not back legalization. The polls

show the majority wants it legal! Any senator that votes against it is ignoring what their voters want.

[GoodRaisin]

10. Both of my Senators from North Carolina oppose these measures.

I guess the question once again is will Senate Democrats be united in their support.

[COL Mustard]

3. Legalize it, regulate it and

Tax it. Just like alcohol and tobacco. Get the street gangs out of the industry.

[Blues Heron]

6. That's a recipe for getting the gangs back in the industry as California Is finding out

I say treat it like coffee or tea, basil or rosemary. Get the price way down and the gangs won’t make any money. Don’t over tax it.

[Zeitghost]

8. Taxes are not the problem in CA

The issue is federal prohibition keeping large companies out of the production/distribution/retail side of the "legal" marijuana market. Without the economies of scale, nationwide distribution networks and everything else that goes along with large scale operations, you don't get the cost savings.

So long as the threat of federal prison hangs over the heads of anyone in the industry, you won't see the economic pressure put on the criminal elements still in the market.

[Blues Heron]

9. They interviewed a store owner there who said it's 100 percent tax

He had a $60 eighth that he said taxes were a full $30

Can’t they inspect the weed for less than $240/oz?

That really is a recipe for a black market, and not surprisingly, that’s what they have as that store owner was finding out.

[Zeitghost]

11. The tax rate for cannabis in CA

is 15%.

[Blues Heron]

13. Tell it to this guy- an actual store owner

He says when you add up all the taxes it’s 100 percent

That 60 dollar eighth is half weed half taxes

[Zeitghost]

14. Why?

The laws regarding taxes are public, why would I need to take the word of someone who is either mistaken or trying to exaggerate?

[Blues Heron]

18. Maybe NBC fact checked the story

you say 15 percent, this guy says 100 percent, that is quite the spread. I think you are just listing the retail tax - the last taxing in a long line from field to consumer.

Regardless, the net effect of $500/oz weed is a thriving black market. Whatever the cause of the high prices.

[Zeitghost]

21. I'm well aware of the taxes involved

It's not 100%.

This isn't some insider information that's hard to obtain. It's well published and publicly available.

Retail is 15% + sales tax, so call it ~22-23%
Cultivation tax is $9.60/oz for flower.

Again, all public record and free for you or anyone else to verify.

[Blues Heron]

22. The overall point is that $500 oz weed is a gift to the black market

the only way to get the gangs out is to get the money out.

[Zeitghost]

23. Okay

But that is not the point I was addressing nor was it the claim I made that you challenged.

[Blues Heron]

24. I just looked at a bunch of California weed tax sites-its more than just the two taxes you mentioned

check this one out - its from flowhub whatever that is

https://flowhub.com/learn/california-cannabis-taxes

[GoodRaisin]

12. Let everybody grow it along with their corn and tomatoes.

Don’t see any corn gangs operating on the streets.

[Emile]

4. Support for Legal Marijuana Holds at Record High of 68% Gallup

Gallup has documented increasing support for legalizing marijuana over more than five decades, with particularly sharp increases occurring in the 2000s and 2010s. In 2013, a majority of Americans, for the first time, supported legalization.

As was the case in 2020, solid majorities of U.S. adults in all major subgroups by gender, age, income and education support legalizing marijuana.

Substantive differences are seen, however, by political party and religion. While most Democrats (83%) and political independents (71%) support legalization, Republicans are nearly evenly split on the question (50% in favor; 49% opposed). Weekly and semiregular attendees of religious services are split on the issue as well, while those who attend infrequently or never are broadly supportive of legalizing marijuana.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/356939/support-legal-marijuana-holds-record-high.aspx

[sanatanadharma]

7. Full Federal legalization and maybe I will move back to the States

Or alternatively, if Uruguay re-illegalizes cannabis, I will have to move.
But not to any regressive state still outlawing 'health, liberty, freedom of choice' and plants.

[ZonkerHarris]

16. what is living in Uruguay like? cost of living? Lifestyle, modern etc?

[sanatanadharma]

20. Life styles vary

Needs, desires, budgets vary. I am retired and my partner earns US dollars from her home desk and internet.

Life here is not inexpensive but vegetarians who avoid restaurants (Uruguay is beef) can eat great, cooking at home the street market veggies. fruits, more bought at the street market.

'Stuff' costs a lot here due to import duties. Other stuff I find costs less than up north.
We live on the same budget we had in the USA, but here our $850 apartment comes with a million-dollar view.

Uruguay is the size of Arkansas. I've lived in the big city for four years and have seen no more.
Montevideo is an modern international port city and nations capitol.
All first world here; harder in the hinterlands, however.
Grafitti, dog-shit sidewalks, homelessness, less cannabis access than say Oregon, full LBGTQ rights, prejudice, racism, crime, great clime, south of southern under the stars of the Southern Cross. Hun' we're not in Kansas.

I ought not give any ideas of the nation. But I will
Uruguayans are passionate about politics, welcoming, tolerant and want to go to the states.

I wish all expats who choose to come here were more tolerant of life-style differences.
That's why we are here.

[ZonkerHarris]

15. Prohibition is a failed public policy, again.

[SheltieLover]

17. 'Bout time!

[Wounded Bear]

19. Would hardly call it "swiftly changing" but it is nice to see some movement on this...nt

[brooklynite]

25. President Biden doesn't support legalization.....

Only decriminalization