The Leisure Study: Massachusetts leading the way for Marijuana legalization?

Back when they called him "Barry"

So I got an email in regards to Massachusetts House Bill 1371 aka The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act. I'll try to break this down simply, but to view the full bill, click here.

"100 years of criminalization in Massachusetts has failed to stop the production, distribution and use of Marijuana, and that sustained enforcement efforts cannot reasonably be expected to accomplish that goal.
In an effort to protect the public health and the public safety, to eliminate prohibition-related crime and to raise new revenue, promoting new jobs and industries in commercial cannabis and hemp, and respecting the personal autonomy of adults, where freedom supposes responsibility, do hereby ordain and enact The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act."

Busting people for smoking weed is a long and ardueous process that takes up court time, police time, and tax payer's money. Police and the courts have not shown that they can not stop the production, distribution, and sale of weed, therefore, why don't we take the money out of the underground network [which may or may not be linked to crime], and tax the legal distribution and sale of weed? It is a BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR INDUSTRY which would create jobs and revenue for the state. But how?

"(1) Possession or cultivation of cannabis by an adult for personal use.
(2) Gratuitous distribution of cannabis to an adult. Transfer directly or indirectly related to or contemporaneous with the sale or tendering for sale of any goods, services or other things of value, shall be deemed not gratuitous. (b) The commercial cultivation, possession and distribution of cannabis under a valid license issued in accordance with this chapter is excepted from the provisions of, and shall not constitute a violation of chapter 94C or chapter 64K of the general laws when lawful under the laws of the United States. Licenses consists of cultivation licenses, processing licenses, trade licenses, retail licenses, import licenses, research licenses and farmer-processor-retailer licenses."

There will be a difference between personal and commercial weed. But how will we control it and tax it?

"Section 6. Cannabis Control Authority;

There is hereby created an authority to be known as the Cannabis Control Authority, to be managed by a board of seven directors...Directors shall receive a salary of 20% of the salary of the governor, and will serve on a part-time basis. The directors shall elect, from among their number, a chairman, who shall preside over all official activities of the board of directors. The chairman shall serve for three years or until his term as director ends. A chairman may not serve in excess of six consecutive years...No director shall serve more than fourteen years. Any vacancy filled shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy. The governor may remove any member for neglect of duty, misconduct or malfeasance in office, after providing the member with a written statement of the charges and an opportunity to be heard.

Section 9. Excise Tax Established
The authority shall collect an excise upon sales by processors of cannabis at a rate of ten dollars per 1% of THC content per ounce. The amount of said excise shall be calculated by multiplying the THC content of the cannabis, expressed by percentage, by one thousand dollars (Example: an ounce of cannabis containing 5% THC is taxed fifty dollars, as .05 x $1,000 is $50.) Determination of THC content shall be established by dry weight, without seeds. 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 chapter."

There's the basic tax breakdown and government structure overseeing this.

I think that if you tax and sell booze and cigarettes, both of which kill more people than any other drug, why wouldn't you do the same with pot, which has NEVER been linked to any form of death or cancer. Plus, it takes drugs off the street and out of the hands of dealers, who are making a pretty penny. They may also be competing with other dealers, leading to crime, and police efforts that could otherwise be spent focusing on something else. Not to mention that it's easier for a middle-schooler to get pot than cigarettes, because they don't need ID and there is no middle-eastern minimart clerk to card them. In case you need further proof (or just like watching instead of reading) here you go: