{"id":10998,"date":"2015-05-06T14:15:44","date_gmt":"2015-05-06T14:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=10998"},"modified":"2017-09-21T12:03:21","modified_gmt":"2017-09-21T12:03:21","slug":"aclu-calls-legislatures-plans-to-raid-pot-taxes-dangerously-shortsighted-and-unwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2015\/05\/aclu-calls-legislatures-plans-to-raid-pot-taxes-dangerously-shortsighted-and-unwise\/","title":{"rendered":"ACLU Calls Legislature’s Plans to Raid Pot Taxes “Dangerously Shortsighted and Unwise”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wouldn\u2019t it be simpler for the USA to not legalise so-called medical marijuana and so-called recreational pot ? (drug taking is <\/i>not<\/span><\/i> recreational !). Freely available marijuana will lead to more use by youth, and research has shown that 10% of users will need treatment for addiction and mental health issues. 10% of a larger number of users will result in a larger number requiring treatment \u2013 with the inevitable increase in financial costs of treatment. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

ACLU Calls Legislature’s Plans to Raid Pot Taxes “Dangerously Shortsighted and Unwise”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2012, voters approved spending marijuana taxes on public health. Now, Republicans and Democrats want to grab that cash for other needs.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Budget negotiations in the state legislature are not going well. House Democrats want taxes; Senate Republicans don’t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Republicans are telling Democrats to hand their tax proposals over to the Republican-controlled senate (where leaders promise no new taxes) before the two sides start negotiating. As the<\/b><\/span> <\/b>Seattle Times<\/b><\/i> <\/b>reports<\/b><\/span><\/a>, the Democrats are like, uh, no thanks.<\/span><\/p>\n

So negotiations are stalled and a special session seems likely.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the many efforts that hangs in the balance is the Republican-controlled senate’s plan to raid almost $300 million in expected marijuana tax revenue<\/b> to pay for K-12 education. (House Democrats also want that money. Their budget keeps most of the 2012 initiative’s earmarks, but redirects some of them to non-marijuana-related needs like life skills training in schools and home visitation programs for new parents.) As I’ve explained before<\/b><\/span><\/a>, marijuana tax dollars are\u2014according to the initiative 56 percent of Washington voters supported in 2012\u2014supposed to pay for public health efforts, like drug use prevention, treatment, research, public education campaigns about using marijuana safely, and healthcare. Not only does diverting those funds run counter to the vision of public-health-focused legalization that was sold to the voters. It also has some experts worried about negative impacts on public health<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> In its second letter to lawmakers this month, the ACLU of Washington is joined by a long list of substance abuse prevention advocates in pleading with legislators to stop trying to snatch marijuana tax revenues to balance their budgets.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Using I-502-earmarked funds to fill a budget hole now is dangerously shortsighted and unwise from both a public health and a cost-benefit perspective,” the group writes. “Reduced funding for prevention and drug education programs today means increased substance abuse tomorrow<\/b>, which translates directly to lost productivity and more health care costs down the line. The increased costs of these outcomes in the years to come will make today\u2019s supposed savings pale by comparison.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The letter also points out a recent University of Washington survey of 115 low-income families of teens attending Tacoma middle schools, in which only 57 percent of parents knew the legal age for consumption<\/b> and 63 percent knew home grows are illegal.<\/span><\/p>\n

“To combat this misinformation,” the letter reads, “the legislature must invest in prevention and drug education, which is known to work\u2014for example, youth initiation of tobacco use was cut in half when tobacco litigation settlement dollars went to prevention programs.Now is not the time to cut funding<\/b> for programs that prevent marijuana use and abuse by youth.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the guys who wrote the senate budget plan, which redirects almost all of the tax revenue: Republican Andy Hill (andy.hill@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>) and Democrat Jim Hargrove (jim.hargrove@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

And here are those who sponsored the house proposal, which is less dramatic in its redirecting, but still opposed by the ACLU: Ross Hunter (ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>), Timm Ormsby (timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>), Pat Sullivan (pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>), Mia Gregerson (mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>), Chris Reykdal (chris.reykdal@leg.wa.gov<\/b><\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s the full letter:<\/span><\/p>\n

April 15, 2015
\nRe: Reallocation of Initiative-502 tax revenue in SSB 6062\/SSB 5077 and 2SHB 2136\/SHB 1106<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Lawmakers,<\/span><\/p>\n

The undersigned organizations and individuals, representing Washington State\u2019s substance abuse prevention, treatment, and public health communities, along with the ACLU of Washington, are greatly concerned about legislation currently under consideration that seeks to reallocate earmarked tax revenue in Initiative 502 (I-502). Diverting these funds would directly contradict the will of Washington voters, who made it clear in passing I-502 that they wanted a well-regulated and public health-oriented approach to marijuana policy rather than just legalization without more. And these funds provide resources for substance abuse prevention and treatment programming, drug education for youth and adults, community health care services, academic research, and evaluation, all of which are currently grossly underfunded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reallocating money from I-502\u2019s original earmarks defies the will of Washington\u2019s voters. By eliminating the Dedicated Marijuana Fund, the relevant Senate proposals, SSB 6062 and SSB 5077, would effectively eliminate I-502\u2019s earmarks, ignoring the Initiative\u2019s intent to “[g]enerate[] new … tax revenue for … health care, research, and substance abuse prevention.” Initiative 502 (2012), Part I \u2013 Intent \u2013 available athttp:\/\/www.newapproachwa.org\/sites\/newapproachwa.org\/files\/I-502%20bookmarked.pdf<\/b><\/span><\/a>. The House proposals, 2SHB 2136 and SHB 1106, are not as sweeping as the Senate\u2019s, but would still redirect money away from prevention programs to other non-marijuana-related programs. In moving forward with this cash grab, the legislature would be risking the interests and health of both Washington\u2019s youth and its adults\u2014the former would not get the benefit of participating in evidence-based prevention programs, and the latter will not get sufficient education about risky marijuana use. Neither is a good outcome for Washington. I-502 won by a large margin, receiving almost 56% support, and won in 20 of Washington\u2019s 39 counties (including 5 east of the Cascades)\u2014the legislature should respect the clearly expressed will of Washington\u2019s voters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using I-502-earmarked funds to fill a budget hole now is dangerously shortsighted and unwise from both a public health and a cost-benefit perspective. Reduced funding for prevention and drug education programs today means increased substance abuse tomorrow, which translates directly to lost productivity and more health care costs down the line. The increased costs of these outcomes in the years to come will make today\u2019s supposed savings pale by comparison.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Washington State Institute for Public Policy has shown repeatedly, the benefits from evidence-based public health\/prevention and substance programs far outweigh the costs. WSIPP \u2013 Benefit-Cost Results \u2013 available athttp:\/\/www.wsipp.wa.gov\/BenefitCost<\/b><\/span> <\/b><\/a>
\nWashington voters also enacted a measure that was to have been robustly evaluated by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. RCW 69.50.550 Independent, reliable cost-benefit evaluation of the impacts of I-502 is critical to ensuring the legislature has solid data to inform future decisions about funding priorities that protect and promote public health and safety. SSB 6062 repeals the provisions mandating and funding these evaluations, which is unwise from a policy and public health perspective. Under the Senate proposal, funding for marijuana related research at the University of Washington and Washington State University would also be cut.<\/span><\/p>\n

I-502 is still a new law and the general public is unfamiliar with its features\u2014making this a crucial time for public education about the law. According to research from the University of Washington, \u201conly 57 percent of Washington parents surveyed knew the legal age for recreational marijuana use.\u201d UW Today, Deborah Bach, Study Shows Teens and Adults Hazy on Washington Marijuana Law, March 9, 2015, available athttp:\/\/www.washington.edu\/news\/2015\/03\/09\/study-shows-teens-and-adults-hazy-on-washington-marijuana-law\/<\/b><\/span><\/a>. One of the study\u2019s authors indicated it \u201cconvincingly points out that people don\u2019t have good information about the new law.\u201d Id. To combat this misinformation, the legislature must invest in prevention and drug education, which is known to work\u2014for example, youth initiation of tobacco use was cut in half when tobacco litigation settlement dollars went to prevention programs. Now is not the time to cut funding for programs that prevent marijuana use and abuse by youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lawmakers should not defy the will of the voters by reallocating I-502 tax revenue away from substance abuse prevention and treatment programming, drug education for youth and adults, community health care services, academic research, and evaluation. Please leave I-502\u2019s critical earmarks intact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/span><\/p>\n

Carolyn Bernhard<\/b>, Co-Chair, Prevention Works in Seattle Coalition
\nKimberlee R. Brackett<\/b>, President and CEO Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA)
\nJulie Campbell<\/b>, Director, Ballard Coalition
\nMark Cooke<\/b>, Campaign Policy Director, ACLU of Washington
\nBrittany Rhoades Cooper<\/b>, PhD Assistant Professor, Human Development, Graduate Faculty in Prevention Science, Extension Specialist, Washington State University
\nShelley Cooper-Ashford<\/b>, Executive Director, Center for MultiCultural Health
\nJosh Daniel<\/b>, Content Inventions
\nNorilyn de la Pena<\/b>, concerned parent, Federal Way
\nAileen De Leon<\/b>, Executive Director, WAPI Community Services
\nRep. Mary Lou Dickerson<\/b> (ret.), Initiative 502 Co-Sponsor
\nDennis M. Donovan<\/b>, Ph.D., Member, Board of Directors, Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA) Foundation
\nSinivia Driggers<\/b>, President, Samoan Nurses of Washington
\nDerek Franklin<\/b>, Washington Association for Abuse & Violence Prevention (WASAVP)
\nTracie Friedman<\/b>, Youth Program Volunteer, Lau Khmu Association of Seattle
\nJohn Gahagan<\/b>, Vice Chair, Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA) Foundation
\nMike Graham-Squire<\/b>, Washington Association for Abuse & Violence Prevention (WASAVP)
\nGary Goldbaum<\/b>, MD, MPH, Snohomish County Health Officer & Director
\nKevin Haggerty<\/b>, MSW, Ph.D., Director, Social Development Research Group
\nMona T. Han<\/b>, Executive Director, Coalition for Refugees from Burma
\nPatty Hayes<\/b>, Interim Director, Public Health-Seattle & King County
\nLaura G. Hill<\/b>, Professor and Chair, Department of Human Development, Interim Director of the Prevention Science PhD program, Washington State University
\nAlison Holcomb<\/b>, National Director, Campaign to End Mass Incarceration at ACLU
\nRenee Hunter<\/b>, Executive Director, Chelan-Douglas TOGETHER for Youth
\nElaine Ishihara<\/b>, Director, APICAT for Healthy Communities
\nMark Johnson<\/b>, Johnson Flora, Initiative 502 Co-Sponsor
\nRamona Leber<\/b>, Washington Association for Abuse & Violence Prevention (WASAVP)
\nPriscilla Lisicich<\/b>, Executive Director, Safe Streets Campaign \u2013 Pierce County
\nInga Manskopf<\/b>, Prevention WINS coalition member
\nMarcos Martinez<\/b>, Executive Director, Entre Hermanos
\nJohn L. McKay<\/b>, Visiting Professor of Law Seattle University, Initiative 502 Co-Sponsor
\nMichael McKee<\/b>, Health Services & Community Partnership Director,
\nInternational Community Health Services
\nDelton Mosby<\/b>, Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professional, Therapeutic Health Services
\nSal Mungia<\/b>, Gordon Thomas Honeywell, Initiative 502 Co-Sponsor
\nAdrienne Quinn<\/b>, Director, Department of Community and Human Services, King County
\nRoger Roffman<\/b>, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, School of Social Work, University of Washington
\nAndrew J. Saxon<\/b>, MD, Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA) Board Chair, Professor Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
\nLorena Silva<\/b>, community member, Yakima Valley
\nRick Steves<\/b>, Guidebook author and travel TV host, Rick Steves\u2019 Europe, Initiative 502 Co-Sponsor
\nJennifer Stuber<\/b>, Associate Professor, University of Washington
\nVal Thomas-Matson<\/b>, Program Manager, Health King County Coalition
\nLinda J. Thompson<\/b>, Executive Director, Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC)
\nLeslie R. Walker<\/b>, MD, Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Washington Department of Pediatrics & Seattle Children’s Hospital
\nPaul Weatherly<\/b>, Bellevue College Alcohol\/Drug Counseling Program
\nLeondra Weiss<\/b>, Nurse Manager, Harborview Women\u2019s Clinic
\nRobert W. Wood<\/b>, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Washington, Initiative 502 Co-Sponsor
\nThe Washington State Psychiatric Association<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Source: http:\/\/www.thestranger.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wouldn\u2019t it be simpler for the USA to not legalise so-called medical marijuana and so-called recreational pot ? (drug taking is not recreational !). Freely available marijuana will lead to more use by youth, and research has shown that 10% of users will need treatment for addiction and mental health issues. 10% of a larger […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[104,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-political-sector","category-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10998\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}