Taxing marijuana: Preliminary option

Tax marijuana at a rate between $2,500 and $15,000 per ounce, for instance, of THC, an intoxicant in the plant. Charge fees for the production and sale of marijuana by license. Consider allowing each citizen to possess some marijuana without tax.

Have chemists hired by the Government perform measurements in venues as open to the public in person and via electronics as any court and assess the tax at the moment in public of the placement of the goods under bond and seal.


Present law

. . . is a patchwork of rules that fail to collect revenue.


Reason for change

We need the money.


Explanation of Provision

The tax would apply on the basis of potency, like alcohol, rather than weight, like cigarettes, because intoxication is the sin we may want to tax.

Any threshold of possession would apply on the basis of weight, without regard to potency, so enforcers of the law could measure quantities and charge violators on the spot.

The rate comes from http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02/ht02929.htm.

The provision about bonding in public aims to mollify citizens who distrust Government. It's a placeholder, if that, for transparency.