Regulating marijuana will change its culture

The question of legalization of marijuana in Oregon is a redundant topic at this point. The real talk now revolves around the aspects of regulation. We believe the regulations are – for the most part – reasonable and beneficial.  However, we beg to differ on them being authentic.

Although tailored to the many forms of marijuana intake, the state has put constraints on the plant that are similar to that of alcohol consumption:

You must be age 21 or over

You must have at least one of the four licenses: Producer, Processor, Wholesaler, or Retail

You may only possess up to eight ounces of marijuana, and four live plants per residence.

You may carry only up to one ounce in public.

You may not smoke in public.

You may not take marijuana across state lines.

Most of these regulations have good merit, but state lawmakers must keep in mind that the laws should not be so overbearing that there remains a need for the black-market.

Lawmakers have done a fair job at balancing the rights of marijuana users and the health concerns of other people – although, it seems all too obvious, even to a lay person, that most of the regulations are bent towards generating a handsome amount of revenue.

Indeed, Oregon stands to charge the grower an excise tax of $35 per ounce for each flower, $10/oz. for leaves, and $5 per immature plant. According to Oregon.gov, Measure 91 provides distribution of tax revenue, after program costs, to the following:

40 percent to Oregon’s Common School Fund

20 percent to Mental Health, Alcoholism and Drug Services

15 percent to Oregon State Police

10 percent to cities for enforcement of the measure

10 percent to counties for enforcement of the measure

5 percent to the Oregon Health Authority for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention

On the surface, it looks as though regulating pot can be both reasonable and beneficial.

Is it authentic? It depends on one’s view of the free market. Taxing and regulating this plant could erode the culture within it. Soon, toking will become a classy thing that the crème de la crème enjoy on their evenings out. It will be less about the care-free vagabonds relaxing and having a chill time. Marijuana will slowly but surely become a commodity, and not a lifestyle.

Even though decriminalizing marijuana is a step forward, regulations might end up a detriment to the herb’s rich, poetic legacy in rising from the bowels of suppression, where it has had its meaning for so long. What a sad day that would be.