Amy Lathen
Amendment 64, which Colorado voters approved in November, decriminalizes the consumption and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana by adults ages 21 and up.
The amendment states that the first $40 million annually from a new excise tax on marijuana sales would be devoted to education capital construction. But the excise tax must be approved by the voters, and it takes a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to get such a measure onto the ballot. That means that the $40 million may never be realized if voters turn down the tax question next year, according to statehouse reporter John Schroyer.
During Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting, Chairwoman Amy Lathen said a “huge portion” of the campaign in support of Amendment 64 was “just a complete lie” to voters.
“I have no problem in saying that,” she said. “Telling people that we’re going to get have these great taxes for schools when it takes another very arduous process to do so, I think, is deceptive. There’s no question that that was deceptive in the campaign.”
to Mark Slaugh and John Middleton:
“… selling legal marijuana will EVENTUALLY help our schools …” HOW??
Name any Colorado school district with increasing enrollment. That would be the only one that can justify spending capital construction money that 64 promises. Wait ’til D-11 builds a Taj Mahal without pupils to fill it – currently they need to close Wasson and 4-5 neighborhood schools. Like TOPS funds, it’s illegal to siphon encumbered money for construction/facility acquisition for any other purpose, say books, computers or sports.
A little foresight would have promoted better use for 64 taxes. No one suggested dedicating it to law enforcement’s enforcement and prosecution of hard narcotics traffic (or – be honest – is legalizing MJ the first step to legalizing everything at the ballot box?)
I’m so sick of this lady! I’m tired of reading about all these conservatives who are trying to find any reason to fight 64! Amy give up you lost! If your so upset that it passed please feel free to move…based off the comments I’m reading nobody will miss your ass!
Whatever happened to personal responsibility? When an individual casts their vote, it is their responsibility to read and understand the issue. This society and upcoming generations are getting used to displacing the blame on others for everything that we are starting to see real problems in this world.
The 10th amendment states that all other issues not covered by this Constitution are to be determined by the States or The People. MJ is not addressed in the Constitution and the Feds should have nothing to do with MJ. Alcohol is addresed in the Constitution by ammendment.