Generally, more government equals waste of resources and higher taxes. I would like to play devil’s advocate for an idea that could increase state revenue but it also increases government presence in our economy.
It seems the state House and Senate will pass some form of marijuana legislation, and the governor has said he will veto it. I would like to suggest that with cannabis legal in the states around us and to the north in Canada, it will just be a matter of time until cannabis is legal in New Hampshire. What if the stores that sold cannabis were state stores on the model of the liquor stores?
Our state budget is currently $2.5 billion and our state liquor stores contribute $155 million per year to the general fund. This is about 6% of the total needed to run the government. If cannabis were legal and sold only in state stores, I see several financial benefits.
First, all profits go to the general fund. Second, we will be able to be the low-cost provider and offer lower pricing than our surrounding states. Third, with pricing power due to buying at the state level, our cost of product will be lower than our competitors. Fourth, we can use our liquor store footprints to attach cannabis shops next door, and save on opening and expansion costs. Say what you want about the legal aspects of marijuana, but legalization will happen. Why not make it work for the state?
MICHAEL COLLINS
Weare