Marijuana is being legalized. Sure, it seems to be taking a long time, yet slowly but surely, the trend towards widespread legalization has felt inevitable.
It was huge when the first country, Uruguay, did it some years back.
Then, here in the United States, it became legal in both Colorado and Washington, particularly Colorado. Suddenly, it felt like Colorado was the lab that the rest of the nation was watching, and it did not even go especially poorly.
In fact, it seemed to go well, and it might have inspired other states to proceed with ending the prohibition of marijuana.
Obviously, it is not without problems. Anyone living in New York or New Jersey (like yours truly) can attest to that.
Still, there is no denying that the overall trend is towards legalization at this point, and it continues.
Recently, the CEO for what is considered the "Starbucks of Weed" suggested that if "you don't get a piece of cannabis, cannabis is going to take a piece of you."
Not sure what that really means, much less whether it is true or not.
One of the key polarizing issues that has stalled legalization in both New Jersey and New York has been the fundamental economic unfairness regarding marijuana, in terms of it benefiting the wealthy, versus hurting the poor. There are concerns by marijuana legalization advocates that, typically, it will be already wealthy major providers who benefit, and regular people who will be compromised. State Senator Steve Sweeney, for example, approved the idea of regular people being able to grow the plant in their own homes. Now, he stands opposed to it.
“Six years ago Senator Steve Sweeney was for home cultivation,” Tracy Mc Hugh told InsiderNJ. “What changed his name and why? And what can we do to help back up why patients need it for access and affordability?”
It seems that we are regularly learning that marijuana has some tremendously important medical value, alleviating suffering for many people who are sick or suffering from diseases. Yet, the major sticking point, according to critics of the state government of New Jersey, is that they are more concerned with generating revenue through taxes, than helping their own people:
“People are suffering and dying and our government is trying to exploit and tax us,” Sanjay Chaudhari told InsiderNJ, referring to NJ’s $500/oz price point + 6 5/8% sales tax. “Instead of saying ‘here is this healing medicine that many doctors have said is good for you” we’re gonna tax you and exploit this.”
It's funny. Years ago, I would have advocated marijuana legalization on any grounds, thinking (apparently naively) that the sole problem was that it was illegal, for no good reason. Yet, even though legalization seems to have gone through relatively painlessly in quite a few states, and even a couple of nations, the major sticking point here in New Jersey and New York is, perhaps typically, about it being taxed to death, and hurting regular people in the process.
And I find that these state governments, instead of simply admitting that the prohibition of marijuana was itself a mistake to begin with, are now trying to set up a legalized version that would reflect the fundamental unfairness of our present economic inequalities in this country, and from which the wealthy and the very government who has the power to legalize it will benefit.
“Taxing that medicine for sick and dying people is akin to drawing water out of a sewer of misery,” Rich Moroski told InsiderNJ. “Our government can do better than that. We deserve better than that.” And so who’s to blame? Turns out, there’s plenty to go around.
“Primarily I leave this at the feat of Senate President Steve Sweeney,” Mr Moroski added. “I lay it the feet of our governor and of our previous governor. Our state had a unique opportunity to reverse-engineer a decent, suitable cannabis program here in New Jersey and they neglected to do it and went for profit instead.”
Judge for yourself:
Recently, the CEO for what is considered the "Starbucks of Weed" suggested that if "you don't get a piece of cannabis, cannabis is going to take a piece of you."
Not sure what that really means, much less whether it is true or not.
One of the key polarizing issues that has stalled legalization in both New Jersey and New York has been the fundamental economic unfairness regarding marijuana, in terms of it benefiting the wealthy, versus hurting the poor. There are concerns by marijuana legalization advocates that, typically, it will be already wealthy major providers who benefit, and regular people who will be compromised. State Senator Steve Sweeney, for example, approved the idea of regular people being able to grow the plant in their own homes. Now, he stands opposed to it.
“Six years ago Senator Steve Sweeney was for home cultivation,” Tracy Mc Hugh told InsiderNJ. “What changed his name and why? And what can we do to help back up why patients need it for access and affordability?”
It seems that we are regularly learning that marijuana has some tremendously important medical value, alleviating suffering for many people who are sick or suffering from diseases. Yet, the major sticking point, according to critics of the state government of New Jersey, is that they are more concerned with generating revenue through taxes, than helping their own people:
“People are suffering and dying and our government is trying to exploit and tax us,” Sanjay Chaudhari told InsiderNJ, referring to NJ’s $500/oz price point + 6 5/8% sales tax. “Instead of saying ‘here is this healing medicine that many doctors have said is good for you” we’re gonna tax you and exploit this.”
It's funny. Years ago, I would have advocated marijuana legalization on any grounds, thinking (apparently naively) that the sole problem was that it was illegal, for no good reason. Yet, even though legalization seems to have gone through relatively painlessly in quite a few states, and even a couple of nations, the major sticking point here in New Jersey and New York is, perhaps typically, about it being taxed to death, and hurting regular people in the process.
And I find that these state governments, instead of simply admitting that the prohibition of marijuana was itself a mistake to begin with, are now trying to set up a legalized version that would reflect the fundamental unfairness of our present economic inequalities in this country, and from which the wealthy and the very government who has the power to legalize it will benefit.
“Taxing that medicine for sick and dying people is akin to drawing water out of a sewer of misery,” Rich Moroski told InsiderNJ. “Our government can do better than that. We deserve better than that.” And so who’s to blame? Turns out, there’s plenty to go around.
“Primarily I leave this at the feat of Senate President Steve Sweeney,” Mr Moroski added. “I lay it the feet of our governor and of our previous governor. Our state had a unique opportunity to reverse-engineer a decent, suitable cannabis program here in New Jersey and they neglected to do it and went for profit instead.”
Judge for yourself:
CEO of ‘The Starbucks of Weed’: If “You Don’t Get a Piece of Cannabis, Cannabis is Going to Take a Piece of You” By: Sam Barker:
Cannabis Advocates Turn Up Heat on Sweeney By Jay Lassiter | April 19, 2019:
https://www.insidernj.com/cannabis-advocates-turn-heat-sweeney/
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