A Converstaion with Senator Romer (CO-D) Regarding Medical Marijuana Tax

Reverend The Dying Breed	Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 10:48 PM
To: chris.romer.senate@state.co.us
Dear Senator Romer, I am angered and confused by your proposal to tax the medication of your sick and injured constituents. It amounts to nothing more than discrimination - discrimination against those who choose a natural alternative to addictive opiates and liver damaging NSAIDS. You are choosing to pillage cancer patients, A.I.D.S. victims, those affected by MS, the crippled and injured. For what? Because you're an opportunist, nothing more than a bureaucrat looking to capture votes. What you cannot see from your high horse is that after paying doctor bills and diagnostic fees and travelling from hospital to hospital to maintain some level of comfort in our lives, patients do not have an excess of extra cash. Dispensaries already charge an exorbitant fee for medicine which makes it more attractive to purchase medicine from criminals on the street. Adding a tax (which, by the way, constitutionally can only be placed on luxury items such as alcohol and tobacco - which are not prescribed by doctors) will increase the number of street purchases, fueling criminal activity. The passage of this law would be a catalyst providing for Mexican drug lords. Rather than trying to penalize the sick and injured of your state, you would be viewed in a far more favorable light by the people of Colorado if you were to regulate the amount a clinic is allowed to charge for medication. If properly regulated, in a manner which would not allow a clinic to charge more than street costs for medication, the proposal of a tax may actually be palatable. Before you begin to think of ways to take money from the less fortunate in life, you would be wise to think of ways to help those who rely on medication to live with dignity afford their medication by putting an end to profiteering. I hope you can see the error of your original proposal and go back to the drawing board. I can assure you that by addressing medical marijuana as a profitable legal agenda will get you nothing but a substantial loss in votes for re-election. Please make the compassionate choice. Sincerely, Rev. Johnny Breedlove

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Chris Romer	Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 6:27 AM
To: Reverend The Dying Breed
Thank you. I believe we can help provide affordable medical marijuana by increasing supply. It is economics 101, supply not a 2.9% tax determines price. That said your concern for your patients is my focus not revenue for the state. I would like to fund more substance abuse programs. Chris Chris Romer State Senate, District 32 Capitol: 303-866-4852 Check out my blog at www.chrisromer.blogspot.com

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	Sat, Nov 21, 2009 at 9:23 AM
To: Chris Romer
I don't understand how adding a tax will increase supply. Currently, in Longmont, there are 5+ dispensaries open. The price of medicine has been steadily going up as more shops open. Next, I need to ask, is your 2.9% tax on top of the 8.x% tax that is already being charged in Longmont and Boulder? Where we stand right now, to purchase illegal street meds, possibly from a Mexican cartel, one would pay a flat cost of $100 for 1/4 oz and $320-380 for an oz. At a dispensary the same amount of medication costs $120 1/4 oz and $380-480/oz. Those prices already include an 8.025% sales tax in Longmont taking the prices up to $129.63 1/4 oz and $432.10/ oz (on the low end). Add 2.9% on top of that? I would not be so opposed to the tax, but only if price regulation was considered in the process. A legal distributor should never be allowed to charge more than street prices. It fuels violent crime. I do not support you on using the money for rehab. Addicts will only quit when they are ready. For some, that time never comes. It is not a beneficial use of the funds generated. If I have to pay a tax on my natural meds and opiate patients do not, I want to have a say in where those funds go. In this economy, there are over 100 other uses for that tax money that would make more sense than rehab. (Healthcare for the poor??? You are taking the money from the sick and injured.) Please take this plan back to the drawing board. In its current state it amounts to not much more than an attack on sick folk who choose not to consume chemical pharmaceuticals. Sincerely, Rev. Johnny Breedlove

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Chris Romer	Sat, Nov 21, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Thank you. I do think that new supply will drive down prices. Chris Chris Romer State Senate, District 32 Capitol: 303-866-4852 Check out my blog at www.chrisromer.blogspot.com

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Johnny Breedlove	Sat, Nov 21, 2009 at 11:54 AM
To: Chris Romer
But, you didn't address the question. Is this a 2.9% on top of the x.x% city tax? Are patients really looking at paying over 10% in tax on their medication? Johnny _________________________________________________________________________________ Chris Romer The state tax is 2.9% plus local tax. Hope that answers your question. Chris Chris Romer State Senate, District 32 Capitol: 303-866-4852 Check out my blog at www.chrisromer.blogspot.com I'm done with this guy. I won't be getting any answers from him. He has lost my vote and I hope you will write him opposing the tax as well. Thanks.