House democrats: “Legalize It”
House Speaker Joe Souki and House Majority Leader Scott Saiki have introduced a bill to legalize marijuana.
The new bill – HB 699 allows for personal use of pot, and creates licenses for the growth and sale of marijuana.
And yes: this would allow for general excise taxes to be collected on these herbal transactions.
The Associated Press quotes House Minority Leader Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson, as saying that legalization may increase crime rates. Recent results in California provide a different conclusion, however.