Cigarette Purchases Are a Reason for Legalizing Marijuana
As The News Journal points out in their article about businesses against raising the cigarette tax, out-of-state people come to Delaware to save money on cigarettes. When I lived in New Castle, every Saturday and Sunday morning the tobacco shop parking lots would be filled with cars from New York as well as Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These weren’t just pack-a-day smokers, some were filling their trunks with cartons and cartons of cigarettes.
I’m not against raising the taxes on cigarettes, we should do that as one of the many steps to raise money to provide services in Delaware. But what this story should tell Carney and the state legislature is that this same behavior — driving some distance from out of state to purchase products — would be a bonanza if we legalized marijuana.
Delaware would have several years of huge tax revenue from citizens of Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and, even, New York. With Rehoboth Beach being a vacation destination and I-95 bisecting Northern Delaware, the Delaware government would raise a lot of cash. All of these reasons plus then Dogfish could make a marijuana-infused IPA.
WDEL reports the following:
Members of the [Cannibus Bureau of Delaware], along with dozens of supportive citizens, flooded Legislative Hall the morning of January 19, 2017, with one goal in mind: acquire a sponsor for legislation that would tax and regulate the recreational use of marijuana.
Tags: Marijuana
Delaware’s politicians never met a racket they didn’t love but always arrive late to the party, legalization will be no different. We could be raking in the mega millions and in the process filling the hotels, casinos, bars and restaurants with people with ready cash to spend. Instead the little darlings in Dover will wait until the train has left the station leaving us crumbs as the money goes elsewhere. Again.
“Delaware would have several years of huge tax revenue”
The key phrase is “several years”, because just like the slot machines and table games; the revenue drys up as soon as neighboring states pass the same laws….Time is of the essence here.
……And we really don’t know yet how the Trump administration is going to move relating to the federal laws on this issue…..Trump is a business man though, so he may see the merit in not interfering with the individual states’ decisions.
Also, don’t forget about the influence that the law enforcement community has in the Delaware General Assembly.
….Jinx…..bamboozer.