California Police Chief- Fall 2013 CPCA_2019_Spring Magazine- FINAL | Page 36

By Captain Steve Gorski, Walnut Creek PD
for such substantial changes to Prop
64 so soon after its passage. Let’s
recap how legalization was sold to
California voters.
Before the 2016 election, the
pro-cannabis Drug Policy Alliance
estimated tax revenue would bring in
$1.4 billion annually. The figure was
quickly adopted and disseminated in
news stories. The official 2016 election
Voter Guide lowered the estimate
slightly when the Argument in Favor of
Proposition 64 stated:
“The independent Legislative
Analyst’s Office found that 64 will both raise revenue and
decrease costs. By collecting unpaid taxes from marijuana,
it will bring in over $1 billion of revenue every year to help
California. And it could save tens of millions of dollars
annually in reduced law enforcement costs.”
Just over two years into legalization,
the cannabis industry is attempting to
rewrite critical elements of Proposition
64. Taxes and regulations, the argument
goes, are too high and complex. The
competitive disadvantage allows the black
market to thrive making it hard for those going legal
to compete.
It is not news to anyone reading these pages that
cannabis’ influence in Sacramento is becoming more
entrenched every year. Law enforcement and public
health organizations are already having trouble matching
their financial capabilities, and political reach. This may
explain why the industry feels emboldened to advocate
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