By in Rhode Island’s Future
A new poll that shows a solid
majority of Rhode Islanders are in favor of taxing and regulating marijuana in ways similar to alcohol.
Jared
Moffat, executive director of Regulate RI, a coalition favoring to make Rhode
Island the first state in New England to embrace a plan similar to Colorado,
said at a press conference that the poll shows “a clear majority” of Rhode
Islanders agree that “prohibition is the worst possible policy” and support
legislation to tax and regulate.
“The Marijuana Regulation, Control,
and Taxation Act creates a responsible alternative that proactively controls
for public health concerns while allowing adults 21 and older the freedom to
legally use marijuana if they choose,” said Moffat, “Taking the marijuana
market above board will create taxpaying jobs and allow the state to tax the
distribution and sale of marijuana.”
Moffat also introduced several new
collation partners, including the Green Party, represented by RI
Future contributor Greg Gerritt, and Jordan Seaberry representing
the Univocal Legislative Minority Advisory Committee.
As an advocate for people of color, said Seaberry, he sees the “devastation”
that prohibition wreaks on communities. The failed war on drugs, said Seaberry,
results in mass incarceration, prisons and the militarization of the police.
The
Reverend Alexander Sharp said that “Drug use is a health and
education issue” that is not going to be solved by punishment.
Rebecca Nieves McGoldrick, executive director of Protect Families First, says
that prohibition “separates parents from children” and “exposes families to
drug war violence.” she pointed out that Rhode Island has “already had a
marijuana related homicide” this year, a death that taxing and regulating the
product might have prevented.
Greg Gerritt said that the Green Party has
supported legalized marijuana for over 30 years. Taxing and regulating
marijuana would save money in the state by reducing the prison population, and
that the taxes generated would allow the state to build things. As a crop,
marijuana has many other uses besides as a narcotic, including clothing, food
and machine oil.
The first state to do this in New England will have
an advantage over the other states, said Moffat towards the end of the press
conference. Rhode Island would reap big benefits in terms of jobs and taxes if
we strike first.
Steve Ahlquist is a writer, artist and current president of the
Humanists of Rhode Island, a non-profit group dedicated to reason, compassion,
optimism, courage and action. The views expressed are his own and not
necessarily those of any organization of which he is a member.
His photos and video are usable
under the Creative Commons license. Free to share with credit and to help him
keeping at it through donations to atomicsteve@gmail.com.
Twitter: @SteveAhlquist