Bob finds a whole new set of asses to kiss.
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke unveiled his plan Thursday for federal legalization of marijuana, which includes a tax on the industry to fund a monthly stipend to repay people who served prison time on nonviolent marijuana charges.
The former congressman from Texas would combine a newly regulated marijuana market with restitution for policies that resulted in lengthy prison time for low-level drug crimes. The goal is to see that those who were harmed by the strict “war on drugs” policies of the past can now benefit from the money made in the marijuana business.
“We need to not only end the prohibition on marijuana, but also repair the damage done to the communities of color disproportionately locked up in our criminal justice system or locked out of opportunity because of the War on Drugs,” O’Rourke said in a statement.
O’Rourke’s tax would seek to fund a monthly grant program he calls the “drug war justice grant,” which would be given to people who were incarcerated for marijuana offenses. The grants would be offered for a period of time based on how long they were in prison. The tax money would also support substance abuse treatment programs and assist those affected by marijuana laws with housing and job support, as well as provide help for breaking into the marijuana business.
It's a good thing Bob doesn't have a chance in hell of becoming president because I can see all kinds of problems with this idea. If it should actually gain traction, I can see duh gaze wanting in at some point. Can you actually put a price on the trauma of not being allowed to legally force someone to bake you a wedding cake? I know I can't.
Then Bob'll have to start a similar program for prostitution. National legalization followed by financial restitution for anyone who did hard time for paying for sex. Since there are only so many dollars to go around, Bob will, at some point, have to start a cabinet-level Department of Reparations to decide what group should receive free tax money and how much they should get.
And don't get me started about the lobbyists.
1 comment:
California is already having a big problem with black market pot, and tax revenues have not lived up to expectations. Thinking that this could be done effectively on the federal level is, well, pipe dreaming. Reparations for felons sounds like a loser policy. Fortunately, it doesn't look like O'Rourke is going to be elected to anything.
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