Taxes: Medicinal Marijuana And Sales

Taxes: Medicinal marijuana and sales

Introduction

The firm opposition to the legalization of medicinal marijuana will surely continue until the elections of November 3, when voters will comment on two constitutional amendments proposed. One of the last groups to oppose the idea is the Municipal League of Mississippi, which represents the interests of the cities of the State. In fact, they have a reasonable argument to oppose the legal and regulated sale of medicinal marijuana: cities will not receive any of the sales taxes generated by the product.

Developing

MML is correct. The writers of the 65 initiative, as the proposal is known, made a tactical error (or a shame. The 65 initiative, if the voters approve it, gives the Mississippi Health Department the responsibility of supervising a medicinal marijuana program. He says that the department can apply an additional charge to the state tax rate on sales for the final sale of medicinal marijuana.

However, this money will not be part of the General State Fund. Initiative 65 specifically orders that this tax be placed in its own funds. The Health Department will have the authority to spend money on the administration and execution costs of the program. The State delivers 18.5 percent of sales taxes raised in a city to that municipality. (Unbuilt or rural areas that produce sales taxes do not get anything back from the State). 

But since the proposed amendment orders that the fiscal income of medicinal marijuana is spent differently, it is not surprising that the municipal group does not want its members to lose income.

Another recent criticism of initiative 65 includes a column of Andy Gipson, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. He says it would be a mistake to let the unleashed people from the Department of Health make decisions about medicinal marijuana.

Why, in the name of something decent, would the Mississippi inhabitants vote to grant total and complete control over medicinal marijuana to the Mississippi Health Department? Gipson asked. Why would we vote to give total and complete control over any thing to any state agency not chosen? The answer to that question is simple: the legislature decided not to address medicinal marijuana, probably for fear of a violent reaction of voters if it considered legalizing a drug that has long been illegal.

These fears can be successful, but the 65 initiative is far from making marijuana completely legal in Mississippi. It would be limited to people with "weakening medical conditions" and lists 22 of those conditions that qualify. The point is that by ignoring the issue, the legislature opened the door for the defenders to gather enough signatures to put the 65 initiative to the vote of the people. What did you do. Then, legislators alarmed both the idea of ​​letting people decide.

Apparently this is an adequate concept only to choose a state flag, which came up with a proposal of medicinal marijuana. Alternative 65 is much less specific and will be on the electoral ticket of November 3 with the 65 initiative. The Health Department Board is already registered as an opponent of initiative 65, which means that people who establish the policy for the department do not want to get involved with medicinal marijuana. It is likely and understandable that there is more opposition in the coming weeks. 

conclusion

Mississippi took more than three decades officially ending the ban. According to that calendar, when it comes to legalizing a drug to help the sick, we are a bit advanced. It is difficult to say if voters will approve the sale of marijuana for medical treatment. It seems a remote possibility, but it can depend on how many people with a weakening medical condition come out to vote, and especially if the families of deceased patients who could have been helped by the medication decide that it is worth it.