:::RHMT::: Real Home Made Turbo

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jorsher on October 14, 2009, 03:29:00 AM

Title: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Jorsher on October 14, 2009, 03:29:00 AM
I'm fairly sure it will not pass, but it's damn good to see other states considering it.

(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnorml.org%2Fimages%2Fblog%2FNORML_Remember_Prohibition.jpg&hash=219bd183d32ce83334da1df75771eb9b19d68459)

It's being brought to legislation today (the 14th)

The bill:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02/ht02929.htm (http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02/ht02929.htm)

Quote
The governor and the representatives of the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging that previous efforts have not succeeded in eliminating or curtailing marijuana use and abuse; determined to exercise some measure of control over the use of cannabis consistent with respect for individual freedom and responsibility; and declaring our objectives to be the reduction of cannabis abuse, the elimination of marijuana-related crime and the raising of public revenue, do hereby ordain and enact The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act.

A lot of the regulations are similar to alcohol, such as the age being set at 21 and it being illegal to drive under the influence of it (although I'm not sure how they'd prove it).

Quote
Section 9.  The authority shall impose and collect an excise upon sales at  retail of cannabis.  The rate of said excise is hereby established as follows:

            Class C           One hundred fifty dollar per ounce

            Class B            Two hundred dollars per ounce.

            Class A            Two hundred fifty dollars per ounce.

Kinda ridiculous, BUT:

Quote
Subject to approval by the general court, such excise shall be adjusted by the authority from time to time as necessary to maximize the revenue derived therefrom, and to minimize the incentive for the sale of cannabis not in accordance with the provisions of this act.

They did put in the bill that the courts can alter the taxes to maximize revenue if it is still being sold "illegally" because of the tax rate.

Quote
A cultivation license shall be exercisable in one place only. The annual fee for a cultivation license shall be $500.

Not bad.  I think a lot of people would purchase it simply for personal use, and due to it being legal to sell as long as it's not a "gratuitous" amount.  They didn't specify at what point would sale be considered gratuitous though...

Quote
g. All cannabis sold by processors shall be analyzed and graded as follows:

(1)  If said cannabis contains more than 1% THC and less than 5% THC, then said cannabis shall be labeled  “C”.

(2) If the cannabis contains 5% or more than 5% and less than 10% THC, then said cannabis shall be labeled “B”.

(3) If the cannabis contains 10% THC or more, then said cannabis shall be labeled “A”.

heh

Quote
r. The authority may issue research licenses for a bona fide conduct of medical, social, behavioral or other research, upon such conditions and terms as the authority may prescribe consistent with the objectives of this act.

Cool, since the government rarely allows research on it unless it's funded by them and thus reflects their bias...

Quote
Section 16.  Sale or distribution of cannabis by vending machine or similar automation is prohibited.

That would have been interesting...

Quote
This document was truncated here because it was created using Aspose.Words in Evaluation Mode.

Heh, not sure if there was more to it.

It's a fairly thorough and well-written bill, and discusses a lot of shit I wouldn't have thought of, like what happens to the license if the holder dies (the spouse can use it for 30 days).

I know it won't pass, but good to see states starting to consider it.
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: SloS13 on October 14, 2009, 08:26:11 AM
Cool but the amt. of tax is completely and utterly rediculous.  Min of $150 taxes/oz lulz.  Gotta start somewhere though.
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: 98redcavz24 on October 14, 2009, 10:03:50 AM
$250/zip for some 10+% thc shit is the price I want!

That type of shit goes for 450-500 easy here
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Jorsher on October 14, 2009, 10:12:03 AM
I'd be happy with a $500 license and selling a non-gratuitous amount on the side to recover my costs.

High quality for free.

But...it won't pass.

Not today.
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: junkyard racer on October 14, 2009, 10:56:23 AM
just wondering if you sent your governor an email, or possibly even picked up the phone to let them know you support it? -or are you just gonna sit on rHMT and talk about it?
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Jorsher on October 14, 2009, 11:09:59 AM
just wondering if you sent your governor an email, or possibly even picked up the phone to let them know you support it? -or are you just gonna sit on rHMT and talk about it?

I'm not in Massachusetts, but to answer your question, yes I contacted one of their representatives anyway.

Good try at preaching, but if I support something I make an effort to support it :P

rHMT is an afterthought.  Don't think you're special.
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Kain on October 14, 2009, 11:37:45 AM
RHMT MASS MOVE TO MASS?

if this goes through, be ready to see a massive migration to this particular state. lol
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: random-strike on October 14, 2009, 12:09:10 PM
fuck taxes
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Stealthmode on October 14, 2009, 12:17:35 PM
"Every culture round the world,
the people smoke up herb,
prohibition is absurd,
the people want it."
-N. Hexum
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: junkyard racer on October 14, 2009, 04:52:55 PM
just wondering if you sent your governor an email, or possibly even picked up the phone to let them know you support it? -or are you just gonna sit on rHMT and talk about it?

I'm not in Massachusetts, but to answer your question, yes I contacted one of their representatives anyway.

Good try at preaching, but if I support something I make an effort to support it :P

rHMT is an afterthought.  Don't think you're special.

good. 99% of the population on here would rather bitch and do nothing about it.
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Jorsher on October 14, 2009, 05:08:15 PM
I know  :noel:  Running on little sleep and too much work, at work, who woulda guessed.

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?&articleid=1204689&format=&page=1&listingType=MA2004#articleFull (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?&articleid=1204689&format=&page=1&listingType=MA2004#articleFull)

Only article I've seen after the meeting.

And no, I'm not the typical pothead.  I smoke once a week at most, and haven't smoked in at least 3 weeks.

Just hate the fact people can have their life ruined for a personal decision to smoke a plant.

Yes, it's easy to just NOT smoke it, but that's not a good reason for it to be illegal.

BEFORE I DIE, I will be able to legally smoke a bowl while watching a damn movie.
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Urban Indian on October 14, 2009, 08:53:23 PM
i can see if this bill was passed in canada



if would become a law
Title: Re: Cannabis taxation and regulation in Massachusetts
Post by: Doug on October 15, 2009, 09:28:34 PM
fucking lousy pot heads