#Potforpotholes?

There’s no secret that Rhode Island is having a bit of a problem finding enough money to invest in critical infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. The costs associated with providing even the basic state services continues to climb.

On the other side, taxpayers have made it perfectly clear that they are less than enthusiastic about handing over more of their hard-earned cash to the state’s general fund. And the Rhode Island business community simply cannot tolerate more taxes, tolls, fees and the like.

What we need is a consistent and fair revenue source that will not raise taxes on working families and that won’t put undue burden on local businesses.

Much-needed cannabis reform can take the plant off of the black market and generate needed revenue for Rhode Island.

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So far, evidence suggests cannabis reform has brought positive effects to states that have moved to tax and regulate. Colorado levies a 15 percent wholesale tax and a 10 percent sales tax on the retail sale of cannabis. This means cannabis users have added $76 million to the state war chest.

Other states are still experimenting and figuring out the tax structures related to cannabis, but all are anticipating higher-than-expected revenue – money that can be spent on roads, education and other top priorities.

Cannabis reform could also reduce the cost related to the corrections system. Nationwide, about one in eight people currently incarcerated are there for offenses related to cannabis possession. Ending the prosecution of these nonviolent cases would mean fewer people in our already overburdened corrections system and a savings of taxpayer dollars we spend to keep them imprisoned. Also, taking cannabis off the street and regulating the sale of it would make it less available to minors, much like alcohol and tobacco is.

Some are concerned that cannabis reform would lead to an increase in crime, yet that is not the case in Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, the states where cannabis is currently regulated. In the year after regulated cannabis hit the market in Colorado, violent crimes fell by 6.9 percent and cannabis reform hasn’t created any sort of public-safety issues in these states.

I’m not saying that cannabis reform will be an end-all for the complex financial challenges facing our state. However, some well-written cannabis reform will generate substantial revenue, and ease the burden on taxpayers and local businesses.

Our current cannabis laws are broken. Let’s fix them.

#Potforpotholes. •

Tony Jones is a local musician, radio host and blogger.

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