Tax and Regulate Marijuana in 2016
Marijuana
reform advocates will be returning to the state house next year in the hopes of
convincing the General Assembly that 2016 is the year for Rhode Island to join
the forward-thinking states that already regulate and tax marijuana like
alcohol.
“War on marijuana a flop in R.I.” in
the Providence Journal makes an excellent case for not kicking the can down the
road once again.
We urge Rhode Island lawmakers to initiate a serious conversation and take action on this issue in the 2016 legislative session. We have had ample time over the past few years to observe the experiences in Colorado and Washington.
We should take full advantage of this newly available information to design our own sensible policies here in Rhode Island. Despite a few initial regulatory challenges, other states’ systems are running smoothly. Even individuals who initially voiced opposition to marijuana regulation — like Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper — now acknowledge that things are going quite well.
The
piece was signed by James Crowley, M.D., James Vincent, and Andrew Horwitz,
identified as co-chairs of Regulate Rhode Island, a coalition that advocates for regulating and
taxing marijuana like alcohol. (I speak for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), also a member of the coalition.)
Andrew
Horwitz is a professor of law and assistant dean at Roger Williams School of
Law; Jim Vincent is State Chair for the R.I. NAACP; and James Crowley M.D. is a
member and former president of Rhode Island Medical Society and professor
emeritus of medicine at Brown University, and has written on this topic before. Not
exactly Cheech and Chong and . . . Jeff Spicoli?
In
fact, these selfless advocates have impeccable credentials, years of
experience, and are motivated only by the desire to see a more just and
sensible approach to marijuana use. Hopefully the folks on Smith Hill will take
note.
Because
here’s the thing,
It makes little sense for lawmakers table this issue again in 2016. Next November, Massachusetts will probably approve a ballot initiative to regulate and tax marijuana. When that happens, Rhode Islanders will simply cross the border to purchase marijuana, putting tax money into Massachusetts’ coffers instead of our own.
The
first state in the northeast to legalize marijuana will have an economic leg-up
on the states that will inevitably follow. And both the Governor and the House
Speaker have indicated that their minds are open.
Contact
them, and your own representatives, and let them know you support this
initiative.
The
most recent Gallup poll says that 58% of Americans support ending marijuana
prohibition. Come on Rhode Island, let’s do this.