LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, THEN APPLY THE TAX

I agree that the government needs to increase revenues and that
everyone should pay their fair share. However the HST will be the
same on the cable, phone, smoke detectors, bottle of aspirin, etc.
for low-income families in basement suites as it will be for the
wealthy in million-dollar mansions. That's hardly a fair share.

Even if the HST is revenue-neutral to the government bank accounts,
it will still be more money proportionately out of the pockets of
those who can least afford it.

Given that the government does need more income, it was interesting
to see that after months of surveillance, the RCMP busted an outdoor
grow-op near Port Alberni, and will be shipping the $140,000 worth of
pot to a local incinerator.

It's like burning $100 bills. Imagine the instant revenues if the
government were to legalize marijuana, control its distribution and
tax the heck out of it -- including the HST -- like they do with
liquor and tobacco sales.

Imagine dedicating all that revenue to shortening waitlists, seniors'
care, housing for the homeless, and treatment for the addicted and
mentally ill.

But wait, I think they tried that -- dedicating the revenues from
lotteries and gaming. And we all know how that worked out for
community organizations.

To make the HST more equitable, the government should increase the
point-of-sale exemptions to include all of the basic necessities. To
reduce policing and justice system spending, as well as increase
revenues, they should do the financially logical thing and legalize marijuana.

Nancy Sine

Victoria