Clever campaign by NORML

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Allen St. Pierre"
Date: April 13, 2009 5:43:52 PM EDT
Subject: Marijuana Consumers Demand to Pay Taxes!

To unsubscribe, follow the instructions at the bottom.

April 13, 2009  norml.org
	From NORML.ORG: Marijuana Consumers Demand to Pay Taxes! $14 billion dollar check presented to US Treasury represents "tax and regulate" boost to economy New York, NY: On April 15, better known as Tax Day, at 8:00 AM representatives and supporters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), including the organization's national director Allen St. Pierre, will stand on the steps of the General Post Office in Midtown Manhattan and present a check for $14 billion to the US Treasury Department. The check total is an estimate of what American taxpayers spend every year to maintain marijuana prohibition. According to the report "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States", Americans spend some $6 billion on law enforcement costs related to enforcing marijuana laws. Taxing and regulating the production and sale of cannabis like alcohol products would reduce these costs while raising an estimated $8 billion in new tax revenue. That's according to Nobel Prize Winner Milton Friedman and over 500 other accredited economists. "On a day when so many Americans lament having to pay state and federal income taxes, we're representing America's millions of otherwise law-abiding cannabis consumers—as well as supportive non-consumers—who're ready, willing, vocal and able to contribute this huge sum to our struggling economy, while providing truly 'green' jobs and allowing police to focus on more important priorities," says Allen St. Pierre, NORML's Executive Director. "All we ask in exchange for our $14 billion is the right to smoke our pot responsibly and in peace—just in the same way as the millions of daily consumers of alcohol products in our country." WHO Representatives of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, including NORML's national director Allen St. Pierre WHAT American cannabis consumers and anti-prohibitionists present a $14 billion check to the US Treasury. WHEN April 15th, 2009 at 8:00 AM (press conference with mock check) and 4:20 PM presentation of check with NORML supporters. WHERE The steps of the General Post Office in Manhattan 441 Eighth Ave New York, NY CONTACT FOR INTERVIEWS: Allen St. Pierre, NORML, 202-483-5500, media@norml.org Ruth Liebesman-Martinuk, Esq., NY NORML, 212-804-5740, NewYorkNorml@aol.com David Bienenstock, author of 'The Official High Times Pot Smoker's Handbook' and a senior editor at the magazine, 212-387-0500 References regarding the economics of cannabis legalization: http://www.canorml.org/background/CA_legalization2.html http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr4/exec_summ.html http://www.cantaxreg.com (See: Revenue Potential and Economic Analysis, and Background Materials.   NORML and the NORML Foundation: 1600 K Street NW, Suite 501, Washington DC, 20006-2832 Tel: (202) 483-5500 • Fax: (202) 483-0057 • Email: norml@norml.org		Write Your State Representatives   Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids   NORML's Daily Audio Stash   Join NORML   More Info From NORML About Marijuana State Laws FAQ's Personal Use Medical Use Industrial Use Legal Issues Find A Lawyer NORML in the Media   Other Ways to Help Join NORML Tell Congress Cafe Press Gear Direct from NORML   Networking Twitter MySpace Facebook YouTube Flickr