Looking on the bright side
Friday, Sep 27, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Effingham County, people. Effingham County…
The Effingham County Board in a special meeting Wednesday passed a 3.5 percent cannabis retailers’ occupation tax in anticipation of recreational marijuana legalization, which takes effect Jan. 1.
The tax passed 6-2, with board Vice Chairman Dave Campbell and board member Lloyd Foster voting ‘no’.
Board Chairman Jim Niemann said in a recent United Counties Council of Illinois meeting, the consensus among county representatives was to pass a tax to offset the expected cost of enforcement when cannabis becomes legal for recreational use in the state.
“The statistic was they figured each user was going to cost the government about an average of $4.50 a year in added enforcement,” Niemann said. “At the advice of the UCCI, (local governments) are going to legalize it in the towns because they know residents are going to go to a neighboring town and buy some, bring it back, use it, and they’re going to have the cost associated with that.”
I seriously doubt that enforcement costs will rise much, if any. So many people refuse to admit that lots of their constituents are consuming the product now.
* This development was far more expected…
The city approved the move of MedMar Lakeview medical marijuana dispensary to a larger spot less than half a mile down the road in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.
Marijuana company Cresco Labs, which owns the medical dispensary, needed to move it to accommodate a growing patient count and demand for medical marijuana, said spokesman Jason Erkes.
“The patient count in Illinois has really been skyrocketing and we don’t have the capacity to accommodate those patients in an appropriate and confidential way,” he said.
The dispensary will go into the space occupied by John Barleycorn tavern.
* Yet another reason why legalization is the way to go…
Seeking answers, NBC News commissioned one of the nation’s leading cannabis testing facilities to test a sampling of THC cartridges — 18 in all — obtained from legal dispensaries and unlicensed dealers. […]
Of the three purchased from legal dispensaries in California, the CannaSafe testing company found no heavy metals, pesticides or residual solvents like Vitamin E.
But 13 out of the other 15 samples from black market THC cartridges were found to contain Vitamin E.
CannaSafe also tested 10 of the unregulated cartridges for pesticides. All 10 tested positive.
The products all contained myclobutanil, a fungicide that can transform into hydrogen cyanide when burned.
Hard pass.
* Related…
* Gov. J.B. Pritzker taps state Sen. Toi Hutchinson to oversee pot rollout: “She has thoroughly impressed me with her drive, insight and ability to get big things done,” Pritzker said. “I couldn’t be more proud that she has agreed to join my administration and bring her leadership to our effort at keeping equity at the forefront of the state’s new adult-use cannabis industry.”
* State’s new cannabis czar faces a challenging to-do list: Hutchinson’s involvement is likely to be more critical after Jan. 1, which is when the first new licenses will be awarded for dispensaries, transport companies and “craft” growers. As one of the key legislators on the weed bill, she knows that its social-equity provisions were crucial to getting the bill through the Legislature.
* State Sen. Toi Hutchinson appointed as Illinois’ pot czar: In her new role, Hutchinson will be tasked with publishing a study by March 2021 that probes possible discrimination in the cannabis industry and its effects on the state. The study will include recommendations to the Illinois departments of agriculture and financial and professional regulation “for reducing or eliminating any identified barriers to entry in the cannabis market,” according to the legalization law. Further, Hutchinson will suggest and promote methods to ensure diversity in the industry, coordinate the cannabis-related efforts of various state agencies and make recommendations for policy and rule changes.
- @misterjayem - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:05 am:
You don’t have to be high to live in Effingham County — but it helps.
– MrJM
- sulla - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:10 am:
“The statistic was they figured each user was going to cost the government about an average of $4.50 a year in added enforcement,” Niemann said.”
That $4.50 figure sounds suspiciously similar to the findings of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian College which determined that marijuana legalization was costing Colorado $4.50 for each $1 in new tax revenue.
Despite having been debunked by a host of different sources and publications, figures from this bogus study keep popping up in legalization debates around the country.
- Techie - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:18 am:
I hope Hutchinson reaches out to people like U of I alumnus and Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner, Shaleen Title. She has done great work helping Massachusetts roll out legalization in an equitable way and could probably provide ample advice to Hutchinson for doing so effectively in Illinois.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:21 am:
===each user was going to cost the government about an average of $4.50 a year in added enforcement===
So alcohol must cost about ten times that amount.
- Leslie K - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:21 am:
===That $4.50 figure sounds suspiciously similar to the findings of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian College===
Thank you. I was having trouble fathoming why enforcement costs would go up, especially by so much. Makes more sense as a bogus number from a debunked study.
- Anon62704 - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:24 am:
=But 13 out of the other 15 samples from black market THC cartridges were found to contain Vitamin E.=
Another reason why those calling for the prohibition of flavored vapes should pump the brakes.
- JS Mill - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:26 am:
=So alcohol must cost about ten times that amount.=
And the cost of cigarettes is?
And the cost of Vaping is?
And how much are they saving through the decline of illegal cannabis use?
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:44 am:
“Of the three purchased from legal dispensaries in California, the CannaSafe testing company found no heavy metals, pesticides or residual solvents like Vitamin E.“
Legalization is the way to go, consumers knowing what they’re purchasing and businesses disclosing what they’re selling. This is so important, in light of the vaping deaths and illnesses. People have smoked marijuana for so long without dying solely from smoking incidents.
- Annonin' - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 11:50 am:
We thought enforcement cost jumped because the dope store took over the donut shop and the deputies had to drive more
- Maryjane - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
From the NBC article:
“It’s a very deep, mature, and advanced industry that starts in China and ends in our own backyard.”
Downs said anyone who buys bootleg vapes is putting themselves at risk.”
I don’t believe it’s a stretch to note the national security implications. Perhaps it would be a good idea to provide dignified, safe-access to legal Cannabis products at once; in fact I believe it would be patriotic to do so.
I believe the $4.50/yr nonsensical moaning is due to le’s reluctance to highlight the loss of their very unpopular but incredibly lucrative business of swiping and selling someone’s (especially those unable to afford representation) automobile for being caught in possession of Cannabis. I read an old article in Chicago Reader where one of the police officers interviewed claimed it was a tax on people who smoke pot. It’s gotta sting a bit for them to lose that power, and cash.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 1:00 pm:
“it would be a good idea to provide dignified, safe-access to legal Cannabis products at once”
Yes. Legalize marijuana nationally and make safer products that everyone could access. Congrats to those in Illinois who want to profit from something that was unstoppable before and will be here in abundance now, legally.
- Rich Hill - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 1:18 pm:
John Barleycorn Must High
- G'Kar - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 1:30 pm:
Isn’t legalized Marijuana one of those evils passedby the liberal Chicago dems? Will Effingham keep it legal once they kick Chicago out of the state? /s
- Ham - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 1:31 pm:
So they have an Effin’ tax, but no Effin’ Weed?
- Rabid - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 1:55 pm:
Enforcing the law, no your abiding by the law
- 13th - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
I taught Effingham area was the anti-tax king of Illinois tax, so it ok for them but not the State of Illinois
- someonehastosayit - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 2:51 pm:
===so it ok for them but not the State of Illinois===
For the current Effingham County board, hypocrisy ranks above “anti-tax”