In this challeging economy, a Lexington Kentucky attorney has a solution for Kentucky's budget crisis: legalize and tax marijuana.
In a prepared statement, Attorney Gatewood Gailbraith, former political candidate for governor of Kentucky, states that Kentucky is looking for new sources of taxation and seems bent on adding a "sales tax" on services including our legal fees. However, he points out that "there is a much larger source of revenues lying untapped which will keep them out of our pockets and solve our budget problems for years to come." Galbraith's solution, tax marijuana.
In a letter to Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Galbraith argues that Kentucky should take advantage of this opportunity by studing ways to tax and regulate cannabis (marijuana and hemp) so as to help Kentuckians.
As an example, Galbraith calculates "that getting 30 joints per ounce, the Kentucky public consumes 114,000 ounces of marijuana per day. At a $100 per ounce tax, that would yield the Commonwealth an additional $511 MILLION in new taxes the first year. If we were the first [state] east of the Mississippi River to pass these laws, the income would be astronomical, dwarfing the gambling/casino commerce to Kentucky." Gatewood prepared a chart entitled "Are You Tough Enough for The Truth", wherein he states that "in 07, Kenucky was ranked 2nd in total domestic marijuana production wih most of this production going out of state". According to Gatewood's calculations, Kentucky could realize new annual income of at least $1,7893,283,200.00.
Note: The views contained herein by attoney Gatewood Galbraith regarding legalizing marijuana are the views and opinions of Gatewood Gailbraith and are not the views of the author. Documents received from attorney Gailbraith are used with permission of Gatewood Galibraith. It is illegal to use and / or possess and / or sell marijuana in the Commonwealth (State) of Kentucky.
Article by Lexington Kentucky criminal defense Attorney Stephen J. Isaacs, Isaacs Law Office.
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Of course it can save KY much as it can actually save the U.S. as well.First off,it is relativly harmless especially used with the vaporisor method or in cooking, no smoke no lung damage. It does not kill brain cells which was proven way back in the 80's,it is not physically addictive but only mentaly addicitve. Tax revenues from it would put the stae ahead finacial wise instead of in the negative within 1 year of leaglization top's. It has been thid states number one cash crop for decades. This state does not even have any type of a program for trying to legalize it for medicinal use much less total legalization. I find that very draconian to say the least. It's medicinal benefit's are second to nonme which also has beenb proven not only in this country but in study's done all over the world. Study's done in country's that have legalized marijuana have shown drmatic and very significant drops not only in drug related crimes but also in the numbers of teens using it as well, both dropped dramatically. Any way you look at it, it is a good thing and not a bad thing. Compared to alcohol and tobaco products it really is virtually harmless. As far as the so called "DUI" thing going around the country they couldn't be more wrong, most DUI'S are caused by alcohol use but because blood and urine tests are done they show THC in the system no matter if it was used that day or up to 3 months prior si all in all in 99.9 percent of DUI'S marijuana was not the contributing factor but alcohol was. It is without a doubt one of the prefct fix it's for not only our economic situation both state and country but also it will drop the numbers of those using meth, cocaine, heroin, prescription pain pills etc. Mega billions are being wasted along with man power and hour's every year in this country in a vain attempt to try to stop marijuana but yields continue to grow every year. All of this wasted time and money could be better used to fight the really bad drugs instead of a harmless one. Including this state which also wastes mega millions every year and gets nowhere in the fight to stop it so it only maskes sense and logic to figure out that it should be legalized here as well in the whole country. We should at least be making it legal for medicinal use in KY if anything. Compared to narcotic pain killer as well as many of the tranquilizers and sedatives it beats them all hands down. Think people, think.
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Posted by: sagesagar | April 02, 2010 at 03:12 AM