Oakland rules on pot

[Mycroft]

I was just pointing out that it isn't basil, it doesn't grow like basil and it isn't as easy to cultivate as basil

Of the two, basil is the greater challenge.

Yet, everyday, millions upon millions of people pay consumer goods they could otherwise grow themselves. It's called value-added, not everybody has the time or the inclination to spend months and months cultivating something that they could just as easily pop down to the shops to buy and are prepared to pay a premium for the convenience of not doing it themselves.

I don't think anyone doubts that. I think the debating point is if the price would be anything like the market today.

 

[bit_pattern]

Of the two, basil is the greater challenge.

If you say so, lol

I don't think anyone doubts that. I think the debating point is if the price would be anything like the market today.

No, the debate is whether a high tax as proposed would be sustainable, from which came the argument consumers would just grow their own. Some will, sure, but there will always be a market for commercially grown pot. Pot heads are lazy arse mo'fo's

 

[Mycroft]

Marijuana isn't legal in California without a prescription. And even then you are violating federal law.

Let me know how your theory holds up when it's actually legal.

Not only that, but here in Kansas the price of that high-end name brand marijuana is coming way down due to (or so I'm told) the influx of California weed. Right now their production is way more than consumption.

 

[Mycroft]

If you say so, lol

Yep. I say so.

No, the debate is whether a high tax as proposed would be sustainable, from which came the argument consumers would just grow their own. Some will, sure, but there will always be a market for commercially grown pot. Pot heads are lazy arse mo'fo's

Sure, but they would buy it illicitly to avoid the tax.

 

[bit_pattern]

Sure, but they would buy it illicitly to avoid the tax.

Make commercial growing illegal without a license for tax purposes and then aggressively target renegades through the FBI and the IRS, like you would any other tax evader. Either force them into the legal market or put them out of business.

ETA: One thing though that I just thought of, I've been to focused on high end consumers when the legal market might also need to compete with the cheap, inferior quality, imported product that is financing so much of the Mexican gangs. Maybe the tax regime would need to be low enough to compete with the bricks of Mexican schwag that go for $400 kg.

 

[Mycroft]

Make commercial growing illegal without a license for tax purposes and then aggressively target renegades through the FBI and the IRS, like you would any other tax evader. Either force them into the legal market or put them out of business.

It would be pretty easy for a few plants in my basement or in my garden to supply all the needs of myself and all my friends. It doesn't have to be a commercial growing operation, and if the taxes are as high as you seem to think they should be, then my friends would have no objection to compensating me a much more reasonable sum for my efforts.

But I wonder, is your interest more in protecting the price-point of the high-end product? Wouldn't it be better for the producer to be able to sell twenty times as much for a quarter of the cost legally than try to artificially continue its current high cost?

ETA: One thing though that I just thought of, I've been to focused on high end consumers when the legal market might also need to compete with the cheap, inferior quality, imported product that is financing so much of the Mexican gangs. Maybe the tax regime would need to be low enough to compete with the bricks of Mexican schwag that go for $400 kg.

Or better yet, just make the tax rate comparable to alcohol so that the high-end product can compete favorably with the low-end imports.

 

[marplots]

It would be pretty easy for a few plants in my basement or in my garden to supply all the needs of myself and all my friends.

Application to befriend on the way...