A hefty federal marijuana tax?

Effort building to change U.S. marijuana laws

“An effort is building in Congress to change U.S. marijuana laws, including moves to legalize the industrial production of hemp and establish a hefty federal pot tax.”

“…growers would have to obtain a federal permit.”

This does not sound like ending the drug war.

Many fans of legalization seem to look past plans for federal taxes and permits.

Washington State already has plans for hefty taxes.

Still wondering how high tax penalties will end the black market:

Study: Nearly 40 percent of cigs in Washington are contraband

Tax benefit expected from marijuana sales:

“The Office of Financial Management has concluded that taxes will raise $1.9 billion (that’s no typo, not “million” but “billion”) within five years.”

Surely- people must be controlled with licenses, permits, permissions, inspections, certificates, authorizations, fees, directives and mandates.

How else could we be safe?

It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.

If people are free to opt out- as they do when they produce their own wine or beer- I would be less critical of this.

Photo- Port Townsend scene