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A p ril 18. 2012
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Legalization Benefits Analyized in Washington State
R ecreational use o f m arijuana w ere considering legalizing the drug bers are based on federal drug-use
c o u ld raise a t least $560 m illion a in 2010. M arijuana is illegal under surveys.
y e a r in new taxes
federal law.
T he state also includes a second
(A P) - A state analysis show s
1-502 w ould create a system o f
that an initiative to legalize the rec state-licensed grow ers, proces
reational use o f m arijuana in W ash sors and stores, an d im pose a 25
ington could raise at least $560 m il percent excise tax at each stage.
lion a y ear in new taxes.
People ages 21 and older could
The state O ffice o f Financial M an buy up to an ounce o f dried m ari-
agem ent produced an estim ate this juana, one pound o f m arijuana-
w eek on the fiscal im pact o f the po- infused product in solid form ,
tential passage o f Initiative502, which such as brow nies, or 72 ounces
will be on the N ovem ber ballot.
o f m arijuana-infused liquids.
H ow ever, the analysis notes that
The analysis anticipates 100
revenues w ould be "adversely im - state-licensed grow ers supply-
pacted " if federal authorities cracked ing m ore than 300 m arijuana stores scenario, w ith 10 percent higher
dow n on the state, as they threat- that w ould sell 187,666 pounds to at consum ption, in w hich the total tax
en ed to do w hen C alifornia voters least 363,OOOcustomers. Those num - revenue w ould be $606 m illion. The
tax revenue could reach near tw o- budget staff, the g o v ern o r is op-
thirds o f a billion dollars by fiscal posed to the initiative,
y ear 2017, according to the report.
"This doesn't resolve the con-
T he state estim ates are sig- flict w ith federal law ," said her
nificantly higher than the $215 spokesw om an, K arina Shagren.
m illion that I-502's cam paign
In addition to G regoire, a group
estim ated w ould be raised from o f m ed ical-m ariju an a patients op-
the excise taxes.
pose 1-502, saying the initiative's
"The cam paign has alw ays proposed d riv in g -u n d er-th e-influ-
w anted to be conservative in ence provisions w ould m ake it im
the estim ates on the revenue possible for m any patients to le-
b ecau se w e h o n estly d o n 't gaily drive. T he group. N o on 502,
know w hat a legal m arijuana had raised no m oney as o f late Feb-
m arketw illlooklike,"saidcam - ruary. 1-502, how ever, has raised
p a ig n
d ir e c to r
A lis o n $1.2 m illion since last M ay, but spent
Holcomb.
m uch o f it on paid signature gather-
E ven though the analysis w as ing to qualify for the ballot, accord-
prepared by G ov. C hris G regoire's ing to public disclosure reports.
HH
Rob Ingram Youth Summit Against Violence 2012
A y outh-driven sum m it, n am ed after the late R ob Ingram
for his dedication to curb gang violence am ongst young
people w ithin the com m unity, w ill be held on Saturday, A ril
21 at H ighland C hristian C enter 7600 N ortheast G lisan Street.
M ultnom ah Y outh C om m ission w ill host The R ob Ingram
Y outh S um m it A gainst V iolence 2012 this w eekend, w hen
youth from across the region are invited to com e to g eth er to
discuss proactive w ays to address how violence is both
view ed and dealt throughout Portland.
T he first part o f the sum m it will be a sum m it for youth only
to caucus, build com m unity, and co n sid er youth driven
policy recom m endations.
Invited elected officials and com m unity leaders are w el
com e betw een 2:15 and 3:45pm to listen to y o u th ’s stories
and engage w ith young people in dialogue surrounding how
youth and adults can take steps to reduce violence in
Portland.
T h e goals o f the sum m it are to provide resources for
yo u th to deal w ith violence they ex p erien ced an d / o r c u r
rently experience in their lives; Inform policy m akers with the
experiences youth face regarding violence and provide
potential policy recom m endations to be co n sid ered ; E d u
cate youth and adults about O ur Bill o f R ights: C h ild ren +
Y outh and the im portance o f its im p lem en tatio n into all
decision m aking arenas in the com m unity.
A n o th er goal o f the sum m it is to have a diverse turnout
o f youth from across the region to share ideas and e x p eri
ences to build a youth m ovem ent fo r social ch an g e against
v io len ce. T o re g is te r fo r the free e v e n t, v isit h ttp ://
rob_ingram_youth_summit_agaiast_violaice_2012eventbrite.com/