Subsidies for Pot Growers? (Seattle, Olympia: sales, 2014, how much)

[Blackhawk4440]

Washington State officials announced this week that---after two years of legalization, legal marijuana has finally topped $1 million in tax revenue. Compared to the $11 million Colorado took in last month alone, Washington doesn't seem to show much promise.

This fact hasn't been lost on investors, who've wasted considerable time and money in the state. With Oregon legalization on the horizon; even marijuana growers are joining the general exodus of businesses from WA. Lured by delusional propaganda of making Seattle 'The Amsterdam of America', the State Legislature basically let Washington's traditional agricultural base---along with the fishing and timber industries---fall by the wayside. Never mind that these industries actually built the State: once again we see the State interests sacrificed for the benefit of Seattle. But this time, there wasn't even any benefit.

Legalization has failed in Washington both because of lack of intelligent planning and failure to understand basic economic procedures. In a state where Kshama Sawant is considered an economic authority, this failure was probably predictable from the onset.

But Oregon legalization has put Governor Inslee and his cohorts into a deeper predicament. Colorado wasn't much of a competitive threat (other than it could actually deliver product) but Oregon's legalization can literally wipe out Washington as a major player. The only way Inslee can weasel out of this mess is through subsidies. But he can't go to Obama for a bailout, since the Feds don't recognize pot as legal cash crop. And if he turns to the State; areas outside of Seattle are going to question why Olympia has money to bailout Seattle, but nothing to support our indigenous farms and fisheries.

The fair thing to do would be to admit that legalization was a failure here; at least it was a failure to rely on MJ as a cash crop---and devote more resources again to rebuild Washington's agricultural base.

Try explaining that to the beanie-wearers on the Sound though:


Idiocracy - Brawndo - YouTube

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk4440

Washington State officials announced this week that---after two years of legalization, legal marijuana has finally topped $1 million in tax revenue. Compared to the $11 million Colorado took in last month alone, Washington doesn't seem to show much promise.

That's very misleading. While the election to legalize (I502) was in November 2012 (not quite 2 years) the first sale under the new law was not until July 2014! That's only 2 months of sales so far.

[Blackhawk4440]

Hemlock:
Colorado's been selling since January 2013. Apparently, they had a plan and Washington didn't.

Still there's no excuse for dragging out for over a year and a half. That's 7 quarters of tax revenue wasted.

[TrueTimbers]

Bla bla bla
Your whining is right out of the haters handbook..
2 months is 2 months. No need to rush..
Remember the turtle wins the race. Especially with something as serious as legalizing marijuana.

[Blackhawk4440]

Wait until Oregon legalizes, then we'll see who does all the whining!

[TrueTimbers]

It is my opinion the state is doing a good job of representing and implementing the voters wishes.

More important than instant money is long term viability and safety.

If money were the top priority like you seem to think it is, then why not have cops pushing pot lollipops to kids.?

Seriously, IMO, Washington will have the model the vast majority of the nation follows.

You should like it, it is more conservative. Money without order will just cost society more money.

[Ira500]

First of all, thanks for posting the Idiocracy clip. What a great movie!
But, to clarify this a bit, Colorado, like Washington, had a lot of medicinal marijuana dispensaries before they legalized it for recreational use. But they licensed and taxed them. So when legalization rolled around, it wa simple to just license and tax the existing dispensaries and convert them to recreational stores. Not here. The legislature voted to license and tax the medicinal stores, but Christine Gregoire vetoed it because marijuana was against federal law. Maybe that veto wasn't so smart. That's why Colorado was able to get off to such a head start. Evidently sales are brisk at the recreational stores open in WA, there just aren't very many at this point. And I don't think most of the revenue they're bring in is from tourism, so if Oregon legalizes, I don't think it'll have much impact. Give it ten years, and I think there will be at least half a dozen states with legal marijuana.

[arcticracer]

Blackhawk4440 my friend, I remember you. You are claiming failure a little too fast for the Cannabis biz in Washington. The liquor control board or whatever it is called obviously is not the most weed friendly group of folks. Business is picking up speed rather nicely thank you, and if you have patience you will see that there is going to be a lot more Cannabis related business and consumption than you will be comfortable with.

Shucks, I am studying business opportunities myself and am only a couple years away from moving to Wa. There is a LOOOOONNNGGG list of interested would be growers, processors and retailers. If this is too much for you to handle, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[arcticracer]

Marijuana To Boost Washington State Tax Revenue By $25M In The Next Year « CBS Seattle

"Marijuana To Boost Washington State Tax Revenue By $25M In The Next Year"