HB 26-12: The Taxing Cannabis Act of 2020 (Failed)

[Joseph Cao]

An Act
To levy a tax on cannabis in the interest of creating more government revenue

Section I. Title
i. The long title of this bill shall be "The Taxing Cannabis act of 2020"

Section II. Definitions
i. A tax shall be applied to cannabis products
ii. This tax shall be be at least 15% in every region of Atlasia
iii. This tax will not be an increase in sales tax or any other tax, and will be a separate tax entirely

Section III. Exemptions
i. This shall apply to all products containing cannabis or marijuana
ii. It will not apply to specific ingredients of marijuana including CBD
iii. Customers purchasing marijuana with a diagnosis for medical marijuana shall be exempt from this tax

Section IV. Enforcement
i. Failure to comply with this tax by a registered vendor will result in a misdemeanor
ii. Punishment shall not exceed a fine of the amount of taxes neglected to collect
iii. No arrest shall be made of any non-vendor selling cannabis products

Section V. Apportionment
i. The revenue from this tax will be used to create more government revenue and to alleviate the debt

Section VI. Communication and Implementation
i. Regions will make vendors aware of these changes
ii. This tax will be implemented at the beginning of the next financial quarter after passing

Sponsor: FalterinArc
House Designation: HB 26-12

72 hours to debate.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

While I normally like waiting for the sponsor to advocate on bills before commenting, I would like to point out that, speaking at least for Frémont, we've already levied sin taxes on marijuana and various other legal substances. Under this bill, people who buy weed in Frémont will be double-taxed, and that especially makes it harder for us to consider raising our already-existing sin taxes to make up for our budget shortfall.

Also keep in mind that when something is overtaxed (particularly with a 15% federal baseline!), it still finds its way to the black market as if it were simply illegal. The exact same thing happened in NYC with "loose cigarettes".

[Rep Jessica]

Mr.Speaker

I oppose this insane tax on the little guy and will be voting no. Why should the little guy have to pay for the little bit of enjoyment he gets after work??? I oppose all sin taxes that makes life harder for the little guy that already has to struggle to find shelter, food and medicine while the super rich outsource and avoid taxes daily.

I yield

[Left Wing]

Mr. Speaker

The most recent economic report stated we have 30 trillion dollars in debt. I proposed this bill as I believe we need to alleviate this with more revenue. I appreciate the concerns of the former Fremont MP. They are legitimate concerns and I am certainly open to amendments for this bill.

I yield

[Continential]

Mr. Speaker

The most recent economic report stated we have 30 trillion dollars in debt. I proposed this bill as I believe we need to alleviate this with more revenue. I appreciate the concerns of the former Fremont MP. They are legitimate concerns and I am certainly open to amendments for this bill.

I yield

Some of the debt is from the covid response and I imagine after the corona virus cure is found, the debt will go down.

[Rep Jessica]

My amendments

An Act
To levy a tax on cannabis in the interest of creating more government revenue

Section I. Title
i. The long title of this bill shall be "The Taxing Cannabis act of 2020"

Section II. Definitions
i. A tax shall be applied to cannabis products
ii. This tax shall be be at least 15% in every region of Atlasia
iii. This tax will not be an increase in sales tax or any other tax, and will be a separate tax entirely

Section III. Exemptions
i. This shall apply to all products containing cannabis or marijuana
ii. It will not apply to specific ingredients of marijuana including CBD
iii. Customers purchasing marijuana with a diagnosis for medical marijuana shall be exempt from this tax

Section IV. Enforcement
i. Failure to comply with this tax by a registered vendor will result in a misdemeanor
ii. Punishment shall not exceed a fine of the amount of taxes neglected to collect
ii[i. No arrest shall be made of any non-vendor selling cannabis products

Section V. Apportionment
i. The revenue from this tax will be used to create more government revenue and to alleviate the debt

Section VI. Communication and Implementation
i. Regions will make vendors aware of these changes
ii. This tax will be implemented at the beginning of the next financial quarter after passing

Sponsor: FalterinArc
House Designation: HB 26-12

72 hours to debate.

[Left Wing]

Amendment is unfriendly

I’m not opposed to it if that’s what it is going to take to get it passed, but I would like to have a vote on the amendment

[Joseph Cao]

Right then.

Representatives, a vote is now open for 72 hours on Jessica's amendment. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Adam Griffin]

Nay

[SevenEleven]

Nay.

[Gracile]

Nay

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Nay

[Senator-elect Spark]

Nay

[Rep Jessica]

Nay

[Joseph Cao]

Nay.

[Left Wing]

Nay

[Tamika Jackson]

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

Vote closed. By a margin of 1-8, this amendment fails to pass. Debate resumes.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Please kill this bill. If you don't want cannabis to go back to being a black market commodity that's sold illegally to dodge taxes, and if you don't want to restrain the ability of regions to raise their own cannabis taxes to balance their budgets, vote this bill down.

[Dr. MB]

I'm strongly against this bill. You wanna have black market dealers overtake the legal market? Cause this is how you do it. Sin taxes are sinful.

[Joseph Cao]

We have any more thoughts on this?

[Left Wing]

I’m good with moving to a final vote.

[Rep Jessica]

Mr.Speaker
I object to taxes that target the lower  and lower-middle class. I ask for a strong rejection of this bill.

I yield

[Senator-elect Spark]

Mr. Speaker,

I remain in favor of the legalization of marijuana, but we all know that regressive taxes like these hurt the working class. I cannot support such an exorbitant tax.

I yield my time. 

[SevenEleven]

Mr. Speaker,

I remain in favor of the legalization of marijuana, but we all know that regressive taxes like these hurt the working class. I cannot support such an exorbitant tax.

I yield my time. 

It's a 5% tax on recreational marijuana...there's nothing exorbitant about that. A federal tax will serve to keep business owners away from any shadier dealings.