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* Chris Kennedy was asked over the weekend about marijuana while speaking to a group of college Democrats in Bloomington. If it was legalized, the student asked, what would his plan be for using the tax money?
“I think you have high hopes,” Kennedy quipped to laughter and applause, and then said…
“I don’t know whether it’ll get legalized, I don’t know if it’ll get taxed. I mean, I think betting our future that all of that occurs and that somehow that’s gonna cure our budget problem. I think we need thoughtful, real, concrete that operate without … without relying on something that has, you know, tenuous, um possibilities. Sorry. I’ll tell you the truth.”
The students were dead silent when he finished, so Kennedy decided to take one more question because, he said, “I can’t go out on that one.”
* This video clip is from the same event, but the quality isn’t as good. JB Pritzker received roaring applause to his one-sentence statement on the topic: “And I think we should legalize marijuana and tax it”…
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:21 pm
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Scott Drury was also at the College Dems event - you might have to add him to the weekly campaign roundups
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:26 pm
Why Kennedy chose to give that long winded negative answer is beyond me. Who knows what will happen, right? If thats true, why not take the position with the most positive outcome?
Comment by Anon Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:30 pm
Pritzker is on it. Kennedy is not.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:32 pm
Legalize asap, the state needs the cash.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:36 pm
You got my vote JB
Comment by Jb for gov. Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:36 pm
The phrasing of the question is fantastic. Gets them thinking beyond the first hurdle.
The equivalent would be to ask candidates when you pass a progressive income tax, how will you spend all that money collected from retirement income?
Comment by City Zen Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:38 pm
Just say we’re looking at all options. That one is on the Board. Too tough?
Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:40 pm
Kennedy is right that legalizing & taxing won’t obviate an income tax hike.
Frankly I support legalization more because I think its immoral to send people to jail over a naturally growing plant than because of the tax revenue
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:41 pm
I don’t know, the state could use the extra $100,000,000.00 annually.
Though I agree with Fax Machine, there is no reason to be putting people in jail for marijuana.
That is a massive waste of law enforcement resources.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:45 pm
Oops, Illinois could probably rake in over $300,000,000.00 annually from legalized pot. The state of CO is likely to take in $200,000,000.00 in 2017.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:48 pm
Chris Kennedy is hilarious. If politics doesn’t work out, he may have a career as an anti-humorist or dead pan comedian. I would watch his stand up.
Comment by The new ck Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:52 pm
Candidates need to be ready for expected questions. This was an unnecessary fail.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:55 pm
Kennedy gave a realistic response and Pritzger gave the easy response that the crowd wanted to hear. A better answer from Kennedy might begin with something indicating his support, but the question was about how he would spend tax money that may take years to materialize.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, May 1, 17 @ 1:58 pm
Pritzker is on point here. Not sure why Kennedy is taking this position considering the majority of the people in Illinois appear to support legalization. IMHO, I think the revenue argument behind legalization should be secondary to the moral arguments and cost-savings that might be found in IDOC and county jails.
Comment by Lakeview Dude Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:00 pm
The money should be spent shoring up the insolvent pensions.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:00 pm
The state is broke, no new spending.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:01 pm
It’s worth contextualizing with the fact that Patrick Kennedy, Chris’ cousin, is one of the leading anti-marijuana crusaders in the country. That connection, plus the family’s history of alcohol and drug problems, probably forms the backbone of Kennedy’s tone-deaf answer.
#LegalizeIt
Comment by TKMH Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:04 pm
It’s a shame that Illinois has some of the worst politicians in the country. Legalizing, regulating and taxing MJ is a no brainer that should be done two years ago.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:07 pm
CO’s population is booming. IL is losing population faster than almost every single state.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:13 pm
Unless this has been repealed or amended I believe the Dept of Revenue is authorized to collect a tax on marijuana to the tune of $10 a gram at this time. If that’s correct then an ounce of pot will generate $283.49 an ounce in revenue.
(35 ILCS 520/9) (from Ch. 120, par. 2159)
Sec. 9. A tax is imposed on cannabis and controlled substances at the following rates:
(1) on each gram of cannabis, or each portion of a gram, $10;
(2) on each gram of controlled substance, or portion of a gram, $500;
(3) on each 50 dosage units of a controlled substance that is not sold by weight, or portion thereof, $4,000.
(Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
Comment by Mouthy Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:20 pm
Kennedy gave his opinion, and honestly so. He hasn’t been the most astute campaigner, but he must have realized his opinion was not going to be popular. Pritzker said what he believed.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:26 pm
===the Dept of Revenue is authorized to collect a tax on marijuana to the tune of $10 a gram at this time. If that’s correct then an ounce of pot will generate $283.49 an ounce in revenue.===
That’s about a 50% rate if my calculations are correct. Somehow I suspect these taxes are going to get passed on to the customer.
Maybe we should keep it illegal, lol.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:28 pm
I don’t understand how Kennedy flubs a question when all you had to do was say yes. I guess 70% approval is still too tenuous for Mr. Gradations over here.
Comment by Stark Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:32 pm
Mouthy, at what rate does CO tax pot?
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:35 pm
- Ron - Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
https://taxfoundation.org/taxing-marijuana-washington-and-colorado-experience/
Comment by Mouthy Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:41 pm
So on one hand Kennedy wants to eliminate property taxes, but hasn’t suggested how to pay for schools. And then he blows an obvious question that could be a potential funding source for schools. And if he wasn’t crazy about legalization he could have thrown in funding for usage prevention.
Comment by A Jack Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:43 pm
===That’s about a 50% rate if my calculations are correct===
Somebody appears to be commenting from experience.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:44 pm
Thanks Mouthy, the tax rate sounds low and CO will take in $200,000,000.00 in 2017.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:46 pm
Um, asking for a friend…
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 1, 17 @ 2:49 pm
Realistically though if everyone legalizes it, no state is going to haul in Colorado levels, whatever they truly are. CO currently gets marijuana tourists.
Comment by ZC Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:02 pm
WA is hauling in hundreds of millions. Time for IL to get in on it.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:03 pm
===CO currently gets marijuana tourists. ===
Because they were first. If we are first in our region, we’ll also get tourists.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:06 pm
Answer the question that is asked, Mr. Kennedy. They asked what your plan was, not if you think it will solve our budget problem.
Comment by Harvest76 Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:08 pm
I know this is a minority position but I oppose legalization and so would understand if Kennedy was raising questions about implications for kids, substance abuse, issues his cousin Patrick has raised, etc. But he didn’t do that. He may want to clear up that position.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:10 pm
Did I miss something here?
“the student asked, what would his plan be for using the tax money?”
Pritzker Answer: “And I think we should legalize marijuana and tax it.”
Um, what? Was that his entire response? If so, that doesn’t answer the question.
Comment by ChiReader Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:14 pm
JB sounded like he was running for Governor and Kennedy sounded like he was running for the US senate.
Comment by Rocky Rosi Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:16 pm
$283.49 per oz. tax? What’s the street price right now, $300?
Comment by TheGoodLieutenant Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:17 pm
It’s about $400 an ounce on the street.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:26 pm
So if we were to legalize it, would Illinois be like Indiana when it comes to fireworks? Huge billboards on all the expressways as soon as people cross the border? Pop up shops and prices increases in April? People crossing the border to get it, and bootlegging it back to avoid the State Police at Exit 1.
What would be our version of Krazy Kaplan’s?
/s
Comment by ChrisB Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:00 pm
ChiReader, the money has already been spent. ON PENSIONS.
That’s we needed this two years ago.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:00 pm
ChrisB, that would be fantastic. We need as much tax revenue as possible. The pensions are very hungry.
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:01 pm
===Huge billboards on all the expressway===
I’m pretty sure MJ ads would be treated the way tobacco advertising is treated in Illinois. When’s the last time you saw a Marlboro billboard?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Sorry ChrisB, I completely blew past your snark tag. Well done.
To your point, we already have Sky Dive Chicago, so maybe “Sky High Chicago?”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:16 pm
Very bad statements by Kennedy. All things being basically what I expect them to be, my gubernatiorial choices got reduced by one candidate.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:19 pm
Kennedy opposes legalizing Marijuana.
Not a big surprise. He is by far the oldest of the candidates and the most conservative of the bunch.
Comment by Juvenal Monday, May 1, 17 @ 5:05 pm
at this point I would vote for Kennedy for Governor, but Scott not Chris lol
Comment by baloneymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 5:56 pm
The end of that Kennedy clip was like Jeb Bush “please clap”
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 6:01 pm
Not only legalize and tax it, but allow entrepreneurs to take a crack at raising it legally.
Weed should be like craft beers. You couldn’t even make your own home brew legally until the Great Deregulator, Jimmy Carter.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 1, 17 @ 6:07 pm
Word, too bad Billy beer never took off, could have be the Sam Adams of the 70s lol.
Comment by baloneymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 6:24 pm
no no no Chris. don’t be honest about an answer. give the people what they want…high hopes. I love the legalize and tax idea. but given the Federal political climate, who knows if that is really possible.
Comment by Amalia Monday, May 1, 17 @ 6:35 pm
Most my friend that smoked week in h.s. are still living in their mommy’s basement. True.
Comment by Brown eye Monday, May 1, 17 @ 8:36 pm
–Most my friend that smoked week in h.s. are still living in their mommy’s basement. True.–
What an adventurous and varied life you must have led to this point.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 1, 17 @ 8:45 pm
Brown eye-
As long as we’re going the anecdotal route, my friends and I all smoked, and still do, a ton of grass and we’re all successful in our careers and active, engaged members of our communities. True. Try to imagine the world as it is rather than as your narrow vision allows.
Comment by Harvest76 Monday, May 1, 17 @ 9:31 pm
===Most my friend that smoked week in h.s. are still living in their mommy’s basement. True.
===
And yet you’re the one who writes like a third grader.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 2, 17 @ 7:05 am
Kennedy is not sounding very gubernatorial.
And I have plenty of successful friends who fire up.
Comment by illinoised Tuesday, May 2, 17 @ 8:35 am
re: Tourism boost.
Colorado’s revenue increases isn’t just the taxes on the marijuana itself. People go there. Stay in hotels and pay room taxes. There are tourism buses that (for a fee) pick them and take them to stores. Then to restaurants and bars (more $). Back to the hotels. The tourism piece of this is greater than the sales tax on the product.
Imagine what the benefits could be to small towns along our borders with Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana. It could be a great time to have a winery or restaurant with entertainment and an outdoor smoking patio….
Comment by Biscuit Head Tuesday, May 2, 17 @ 10:22 am
The Colorado tax (sales/excise) on cannabis is 25%, not 50%. Also, an ounce can range from $150 to $300 at retail shops. And the price is going down due to a supply glut. And despite the current attitude of this WH, California and Nevada both legalized recreational use. Kennedy is on the wrong side of this issue. Frankly, I think his whole campaign is one hot mess.
Comment by Alfredo Tuesday, May 2, 17 @ 2:10 pm
After I asked that question, I was relatively annoyed with his response. I understand that we cannot solely rely on a pipe dream in legalizing marijuana in order to fix the massive amounts of debt in Illinois or the failed Chicago Public School system, but he could have stated where he would put the extra tax revenue towards in Illinois instead of treating my question as if I’m some pothead who wants legalization for my own personal purposes.
Having spoken to homeless citizens on the streets of Chicago, many had told me that they were ousted on the streets from homeless shelters in the area due to cuts made by Rauner. Tax revenue from marijuana could help this problem.
The Chicago Public School system is in serious need of money. Students are unable to learn effectively due to the large class sizes, students and parents face the fear of a school closing; and risk losing their children to the violence in the city therefore; perpetuating the school to prison pipeline. Tax revenue from marijuana could help this problem.
Chris Kennedy could have talked about any of that but he chose not to because he is out of touch with the demographic he was speaking too and with the problems Illinois is facing.
Comment by Matthew Vidican Wednesday, May 3, 17 @ 12:59 am