Friday, 06 March 2009 09:46

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis party applaudes a plan to legalise marijuana in California which would create $1 billion in tax and thousands of new jobs. This stimulus plan will protect California from the impending economic crisis and if New Zealand is to weather the financial storm, our government must take similar measures. The ALCP is urgently calling on Prime Minister John Key to regulate the cannabis industry here before it is too late.

Californian Stimulus Package

[Legalize marijuana Tom Ammiano | Salon News]

March 3, 2009 | Can Californians help dig themselves out of their historic fiscal crisis by getting high? Tom Ammiano thinks so, and he isn't smoking a thing.

On Feb. 23, the California State Assembly member introduced legislation that would regulate the cultivation and sale of marijuana, and then tax it. By legalizing pot, the San Francisco lawmaker argues, the state could reap huge new revenues. Currently pot is California's biggest cash crop, with annual sales reaching $14 billion. Vegetables, the state's second hottest agricultural product, take in a mere $5.7 billion. And California's famous grapes? A piddling $2.6 billion.

If passed, the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act would give California control of pot in a manner similar to alcohol, while prohibiting its purchase to citizens under age 21. The state's tax collectors estimate the measure would bring in about $1.3 billion in new revenues a year.

for more info see:
http://www.alcp.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138:alcp-applaude-economic-stimulus-plan&catid=40:media-releases&Itemid=56

ENDS

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