FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2022   CALIFORNIA BREAKS KEY LEGALIZATION PROMISE TO BAIL OUT INDUSTRY (Sacramento, CA) Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a major marijuana tax cut into law, despite current marijuana tax revenues falling short of expectations. The law eliminates the marijuana cultivation tax and prohibits any increases on the excise tax for at least three years. Marijuana executives claim that tax cuts are necessary to save their dying industry. In reality, California already has lower marijuana tax rates than several legal states. In Washington, the excise tax rate is 35%, more than double that of California's. Many advocates say marijuana tax cuts will hurt low-income youth, particularly by cutting much-needed prevention services and child care. Yet the industry bailout was prioritized over saving social programs. "Despite promises from the industry, marijuana legalization never turns out to be the silver bullet for state budgets. In fact, legalization costs more than it brings in," said Kevin Sabet, co-founder and President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). "California voters were promised tax revenue that would save their schools and fund addiction treatment when they approved Prop 64. Now, the California state government is breaking that promise." ### About SAM Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety. Media Contact: Jordan Davidson (203) 295-5020 [email protected] FOLLOW US   Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) | 107 S. West St., Suite 757, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!