Washington State takes $65,000,000 in tax revenue in its first year.

[ScotchMist]

Drug policy has little to no bearing on our populations safety, that is abundantly clear so our pleas of true harm reduction are a long way off ever being heard, if ever.

However, money talks, and seeing as they have a total disregard for our safety why don't they give us dangerous killer drugs. Like that serious killer cannabis for instance.

I don't even use cannabis so it's neither here nor there for me on a using perspective, it's a step towards progress though.

Back to the money, the state of Washington which has a population of 7.062 million people hauled in $65 million in tax in its first year. They could stock the house of commons cellar to the rafters, 2% increase in wage, few more jags in the fleet and maybe buy us lot a couple more nurses or whatever.

It's a proven medicine, it's profitable and if one of the most conservative countries in the first world can do it then there is something seriously fuckin wrong over here Our trusted leaders do like to copy the Americans though so there is hope..

Washington state took in $65 million in tax revenue from the recreational marijuana market during the first 12 months since it became legal to produce and sell, according to data released by state regulators this week.

The revenue was generated by cannabis sales of more than $260 million from June 2014 to June 2015, according to data released by the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which oversees the distribution of cannabis.

Voters in Washington state as well as in Colorado approved measures legalizing personal possession and consumption of marijuana in 2012, ushering in the licensing and taxation of retail stores that offer a range of marijuana products to adults.

Despite remaining against federal law, possession of small amounts of marijuana is also legal in the District of Columbia, Oregon and Alaska.

In Washington state, customers who are 21 and older are legally allowed up to 1 ounce of marijuana before buying more. They also can buy up to 16 ounces of pot-infused product in solid form, or up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused product in liquid form.

cont at
https://bangordailynews.com/2015/07/...rom-marijuana/

 

[warriorOnTheEdge]

The weird thing is WA is the last place to look at for the effects of MMJ. have a look at some of the user boards. Lots of WA stoners are going back to the black market as the prices and quality in the dispensaries are terrible. Still goes to show the scale when you are looking at figures like that.

 

[Bella Figura]

Yeah I'm of the opinion the only thing that'll swing policy over here is when they start to recognise the revenue involved. Or at least when the country is so far down the shitter they can't ignore it any longer.

 

[BecomingJulie]

The only way any British government is going to legalise any drug will be as part of the Scorched Earth Policy (a.k.a. Operation "Kipper in the Air Duct") that any unre-electable government inevitably carries out just before an election they know they are going to lose, in order to f**k it up totally for the next lot and make them look bad.

So, having just seen what the Tories will do without the Lib Dems holding them back as best they can with one arm twisted up behind their backs, that'll be about 2020, then .....

 

[Eveleivibe]

Wow you lot are so cynical.

Evey

 

[wibble]

Or just realists?

 

[Bella Figura]

Mos def realists, when the government systematically ignores their own experts + evidence in favour of hysteria and scaremongering, the future doesn't look that bright.

 

[yoyo50]

but they ended prohibition to make cash(tax) from alcohol/fags... cali has the right idea