One device for encouraging marijuana legalization: Following this introduction is the text of a flier FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE. It is designed to suggest to them that if marijuana were legalized, THEIR taxes could stay down AND the public safety could be maintained. Without their support, marijuana will NEVER be legalized. Following the flyer is the text of a MOCK license and application for growing and possessing marijuana. This would be a result of a very restrictive legalization scheme. This mock license represents a very limited proposal. It is a very limited form of marijuana legalization. Libertarian, computer-nerd, marijuana users will consider it outrageously, and probably unacceptably restrictive. After all, why should they have a license FOR ANYTHING? Repeat, this is a political document designed to convince non-libertarian, ordinary citizens that it could be in THEIR interest to support some form of marijuana legalization. This proposal is not designed to create more libertarians, or to simply make libertarians feel good. Page 1 of the flyer follows: ******** ATTENTION TAXPAYERS: LOOKING FOR A WAY TO KEEP YOUR TAXES DOWN? DO YOU KNOW ANY ADULTS WHO SMOKE MARIJUANA? MAKE THEM PAY TAXES FOR THE PRIVILEGE! Federal, State and local governments are broke. Our economy is staggering. Government programsimportant to you -- schools, ambulances, police, etc. face cutbacks. Lack of revenue endangers America's health and safety. We need new revenue sources. ADULT MARIJUANA USERS CAN BE TAXED, instead of overcrowding our prisons. Put violent criminals in prison instead! In 1933, a major reason to end alcohol prohibition was to raise taxes to fight the depression. In 1933, tens of thousands of legal jobs were created almost instantly. In 1933, the violent crime rate started a steep decline, and organized crime started losing. Now, the U.S. government gets $12 billion in alcohol & tobacco taxes annually. Shouldn't we learn from history? THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACCEPT TAXES FROM ADULT MARIJUANA USERS. * MARIJUANA TAXES WILL HELP BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND REDUCE OUR TAXES. * MARIJUANA TAXES WILL MAINTAIN NECESSARY GOVERNMENT SERVICES LIKE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND HIGHWAYS. * MARIJUANA TAXES WILL HELP PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY! THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP WASTING MONEY FIGHTING ADULT MARIJUANA USERS. * ANNUALLY, OVER 300,000 MARIJUANA USERS OR GROWERS ARE JAILED. * ANNUALLY, OVER $10 BILLION IS WASTED FIGHTING MARIJUANA. * MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS A MISTAKE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO IGNORE. On the other side of this sheet is a mock marijuana license. It is an example of a restrictive-type of marijuana taxation for adults that could raise billions in taxes for state and Federal government. The Office of National Drug Control Policy at the White House estimated the value of the U.S. marijuana business as $10 - 20 billion in 1989. A more recent report estimated $67 billion per year. Hundreds of thousands of people work in this business. But none of this business is taxed. No one in this business pays taxes. Let's start taxing "pot" and put those billions to work! There are reasonable ways to raise marijuana taxes and to control marijuana use and cultivation. Imagine if adult marijuana users sent this mock application to the President, the Treasury Secretary, and Congress, telling them, "I'm a responsible adult. Let me pay marijuana taxes and grow my own marijuana legally -- without hurting the balance of trade, patronizing criminals, or endangering the public." Imagine thousands of American marijuana users carrying this mock application, with thousands of checks for $200 payable to the "United States," chanting at the IRS office, "Take my money!" By the way, know anyone with cancer? The Bush Administration blocked persons with cancer, many of whom medically benefit from marijuana, from legally getting marijuana that half of America's oncologists say they would prescribe if it were legal. And marijuana is also valuable for treating paraplegic veterans, AIDS sufferers, epilepsy and glaucoma. Encourage President Clinton to help cancer patients with marijuana. For more information on marijuana policies, contact the National Organization for the Reform ofMarijuana Laws (National Office 202-483-5500) or the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics (202-483-8595). This mock license was developed to help educate taxpayers, and government officials, about one approach to reduce prohibition-related crime. (If you think the qualifications and conditions are inadequate to protect public health and safety, please let the Foundation know.) If you would like information about other crime-fighting strategies, please contact: THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY FOUNDATION 2000 L St., N.W., Suite 702 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-835-9075 January 20, 1993 ****** page 2 of the leaflet is the mock license itself ***** United States of America MARIJUANA POSSESSION AND CULTIVATION LICENSE APPLICATION Lloyd Bentsen Secretary of the Treasury Type or print legibly. DATE ( ) License to Possess $ 50.00 per year ( ) License to Possess & Cultivate $ 200.00 per year Name of Applicant Date of Birth Address City State Zip STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I am 21 years old; and that WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS -- (a) I have not operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or any other drug. (b) I have not committed any crime of violence while under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or any other drug. (c) I have not committed any assault against any person while under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or any other drug. (d) I have not committed any crime involving theft, destruction of property, endangering public safety, or dishonesty while under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or any other drug. (e) I have not illegally distributed alcohol or any other drug to a person under the age of 21. Signature of Applicant (under penalty of perjury) Date ACCEPTANCE OF CONDITIONS Upon issuance to me of a license for marijuana possession and cultivation by the United States of America, I hereby ACCEPT, AND SHALL BE BOUND BY, the following conditions: (1) I shall not operate any vehicle of any kind, any boat or vessel, or any aircraft, at any time while under the influence of marijuana or any other drug. (2) I shall not distribute marijuana or any other drug commercially to any person (except as otherwise licensed). (3) I shall not distribute marijuana or any other drug to any person under the age of 21 years except as necessary for medical, ritual or educational purposes, and then only under my personal supervision. (4) I shall not commit any crime while under influence of marijuana or any other drug. (5) I shall not distribute any marijuana or any other drug that has been adulterated. (6) I shall not engage in any cultivation of marijuana in any manner that creates a nuisance, or that is harmful to the environment. (7) I shall make the best effort to assure that marijuana and other drugs are used safely, with maximum benefit, and with minimum risk to the public and any individual. (8) I shall comply with the regulations of the Secretary regarding marijuana applying to me. Signature of Applicant (under penalty of perjury) ____________________________________________Date___________ UNITED STATES MARIJUANA LICENSE [ ] POSSESSION [ ] CULTIVATION DATE PAID____ METHOD OF PAYMENT____ TOTAL FEE PAID [ ] $200.00 [ ] $50.00 I, LLOYD BENTSEN, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, United States of America, hereby certify that __________________, applicant, has paid the indicated fee for marijuana possession and/or cultivation. The applicant shall be exempt from prosecution by the United States, or any subdivision thereof, for possession, cultivation or distribution of marijuana for one year from the date of payment so long as applicant remains qualified and complies fully with the above conditions. ______________________ _________ FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY DATE Lloyd Bentsen, Secretary of the Treasury, 15th & Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington DC 20220 (202) 622-1100, FAX (202) 566-8066 (Application not yet authorized by law) January 20, 1992