Written by:  Angela MacDonald

Today while I was visiting my local dispensary, a man came to the door to deliver official notice regarding Denver’s new medical marijuana sales tax. That’s right. Denver is starting a 3.62% sales tax starting December 1, 2009 for all dispensaries operating within city limits.

Some supporters were happy to see this tax, as they say it’s a sign of legitimizing the dispensaries. Others had opposing views, saying if it is medicine there should not be a tax on it. One person who opposes medical marijuana taxation is Jack Herer, the famous marijuana expert, and author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes.

While it seems like a good idea to tax medicine because it is marijuana, it’s probably a good idea to stop and ask why we think this way. Marijuana as medicine is no different than a prescription I would pick up at a pharmacy and pay no taxes on. If I chose to live a better quality of life by using medical cannabis in place of various prescription medications, should I be penalized for this through a tax?

Prescription drug deaths and health impacts cost society much more than marijuana ever has. I still have yet to find a medical marijuana patient who became worse from using cannabis for their illness. If marijuana is to be taxed, it should only be taxed for recreational consumption, just like alcohol. That is unless the government wants to tax pharmaceuticals. I’d be completely fine with that.

(Article Source:  The Examiner)