Tabaco law taking effect April in California will have a double wammy!

[Lord-Xanthor]

A lot of people back in November 2016 voted to raise cigarette taxes bringing a pack up to $10.00. What a lot of people who voted for this overlooked was the fact the way the laws written, its going to most likely apply to cannabis as well, recreationally that is. I'm licensed medically so not effected but many in 2018 when the recreational licenses are supposed to be out by then will get hit by 3 taxes which will be the Cannabis tax, Tabaco tax, then sales tax.

As the above is a bit annoying, what I'm hearing now is even more alarming. Other than voting to legalize marijuana, I wasn't around or I should say old enough at the time to help bring about all the laws we now have that allow us to use this wonderful plant. I'm extremely grateful to the people who went through so much sacrificing to get us where we are today, and now am extremely worried that soon its all going to be taken away. California has for years has tested and pushed buttons of the federal government and don't know what our state has done to not get it reciprocated, but this news about wanting to break away from the USA doesn't sound like it was thought through. I mean if it was to succeed, what would be done for currency, laws, taxes, just so much and it sounds almost exactly like the civil war. Our new president shoots first doesn't ask later which is what has me worried more because the people he put in place, want's to remove all the marijuana laws already in place. If California tries to break free, and fails, won't this be the first thing the president will do to make an example is to revoke all the laws allowing cannabis in the first place? Few of my friends talked yesterday on this. Our sate was the first to legalize weed in the USA, and now could end up being the first to lose over what, 30+ years of hard work? I apologize for bringing politics into this, if I am, which I never done anywhere ever. I'm just worried of losing what so many had worked very hard to get us.

[OzBud]

$10 a pack is cheap!!! they're $30+ here in Aus. Luckily I don't smoke.

[Joker]

Wow thats insane! I bet there aren't many chain smokers in Australia

[OzBud]

Still smokers everywhere. They thought raising the price would help reduce the numbers. 13-14 years ago they were $10 a pack. I used to buy a 30 pack, sell the smokes for $1 each to other kids at school (I looked like a man child and was able to buy them easily with no ID) and make 200% profit from every pack.

[Lord-Xanthor]

$30 a pack is insane lol. I remember when they used to cost me $2.50 a pack and my dad paid like 55 cents a pack. If he were alive today, he probably would have quit smoking. Anyway, if it costs me $30 an 8th, its most likely going to cost recreational smokers here $30+$30 cultivation tax (guessing)+Tabaco tax $8, + sales tax $6.46 = $74.76.

[insomniaczzz]

I'm not from California, so its easy for me to sit back and say that becoming an independent entity will never happened. If any state could do it successfully though, it would be Cali. As far as being punished for even trying, and probably failing, there are still constitutional laws in place that the powers that be would have to adhere to. There is so very much I could say here, but won't.

As far as taxes, well they do serve a purpose even though to some they seem unfair. And if Cali is going to be successful at seceding, they will need all the revenue they can get there hands on.

[Lord-Xanthor]

That's the biggest problem. Revenue. Wouldn't CA have to make their own money should they manage to succeed, and if so, what on earth would back it? Gold mines been basically drained long ago, and I find it funny thinking of instead of gold bricks in a bank, ganja bricks instead >_< Probably would be the one of the fewest places on earth where No smoking policy's strictly enforced lol.

[insomniaczzz]

I certainly don't know the answers to most of your concerns, but more than likely they would continue to use the US dollar as currency. California ranks very low on the list as far as dependency on the US government. California isn't the first state that has talked of seceding and it won't be the last.

I really don't know enough to have an intelligent discussion with you, but, since you are apparently young, I think it is great that you care and you and your mates discuss the situation.

And remember, google is your friend. There is a lot of b***s*** on the internet, but also lots valuable information.

[Masi808]

Here in hawaii a pack at an abc store can go as high as $13

[Blazed227]

I would quit... i only pay 4.89 for a pack...30....fck that... would rather buy an 1/8 of bud or roll my own...

[Lord-Xanthor]

I would quit... i only pay 4.89 for a pack...30....fck that... would rather buy an 1/8 of bud or roll my own...

They were not thinking when they passed that law either. It was done because they needed the tax money, but in my opinion wasn't necessary because they had also passed the recreational marijuana law which would bring them in a LOT more tax revenue. Then again, I guess it was a risk they had to take because no one knew whether or not the prop 64 would pass or not. Think its time to start importing my smokes. Been smoking Marlboro 100 red box for years and used to buy from the Indian reservation until the new fed laws stopped it. Now I started looking at other options and every time I find a good price, I look up the company info to find they are scammers.

[Blazed227]

Yea that sucks... i know its not the best option cause they dont taste the same but cwn u roll ur own or is that crazy exp to...i couldnt afford that price if i wanted to

[Beach_Town_Brit]

Lord-Xanthor I'm with you, I always vote against the tobacco laws even though I've never smoked cigarettes per se (I do smoke a little tobacco in spliffs).
We can't even smoke on the beach out here!

The anti tobacco lobby's arguments seem so silly to me. First off, most of their second hand smoke research is based on ludicrous artificial levels of smoke delivered to primates in labs. Secondly, why pick on smoking when transport pollution is clearly more invasive. They allow jet plans to fly over my head all day, and Escalades to idle beside me while their owners chat about raw smoothies, yet smoking a cigarette is a cardinal sin!

Maybe smoker's rights is the next big movement after we finally get full legalization.

[Lord-Xanthor]

Lord-Xanthor I'm with you, I always vote against the tobacco laws even though I've never smoked cigarettes per se (I do smoke a little tobacco in spliffs).
We can't even smoke on the beach out here!

The anti tobacco lobby's arguments seem so silly to me. First off, most of their second hand smoke research is based on ludicrous artificial levels of smoke delivered to primates in labs. Secondly, why pick on smoking when transport pollution is clearly more invasive. They allow jet plans to fly over my head all day, and Escalades to idle beside me while their owners chat about raw smoothies, yet smoking a cigarette is a cardinal sin!

Maybe smoker's rights is the next big movement after we finally get full legalization.

When I was a kid, and smoking laws were just starting to come around, I remember many good establishments paid to have special smoke rooms made up as the laws had required this, yet 3 months later an update was made to requiring all smoking outside regardless. Surprised no lawsuits happened with that. People paid fifty to a hundred thousand for special air conditioning units and building modifications and that's a lot to lose a few months later.

[alltatup]

@Lord-Xanthor The orange one (not my president) has said he won't mess with states' laws, but who tf can believe a word he says? And there have been various threads on this topic and other similar ones, so you are bringing up issues that so many of us are concerned about.

And you didn't think that states wouldn't sink their teeth into the soft underbelly of all the profits they can reap from the legalization of cannabis? Of course they will, and we should be grateful in one sense, because if anything is a guarantee that orangie won't mess with it, it's profit.

If I were in a state where it was legal to purchase but not to cultivate, I'd keep doing what I'm doing in my redneck dirty South state: growing my own. Once a cannabis outlaw, always a cannabis outlaw. I refuse to become part of the commercialization of weed (except for buying seeds and all the shit I need to grow...)

[OlldDude]

In my humble opinion, I think folks might be getting too excited about Cali becoming it's own country. Not Gonna happen!
When they raised the tobacco tax, I quit. As for all the recreational use taxes, get a medical card.
i think the government thinks we all have money to burn. I do EVERYTHING I can to avoid taxes, you should too.
if you smoke tobacco, quit. Get a med card, it's easy.
That's as far as I'm going on my soap box.....don't get me started or I'll get booted from the forum!!

[alltatup]

Nah, Dude, you won't get booted: we all love a good soap box! Your ideas are right on target.

[Lord-Xanthor]

I think he meant starting a flame war, or similar. I remember moderating a 600+ IRC chat for a new game release 14 years ago. I don't even remember what the topic was, but one of the dev team made a comment on a political level which caused one heck of a flame ware in which after that, they held moderated chats there after and put strict rules in of no political discussions. Taking a look at just about every Trump article, has turned flame war. With those, I make sure to use another name I don't care whether it gets put in the grinder or not. Last thing I want is my FB page getting torched lol.