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This: "the state’s working on setting up a system to license growers and sellers, but it could take up to a year)."

Excellent. Should have the criminals worried. Even in Holland we still don't have this. (Although we're allowed to have several cannabis plants for personal use).

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Many states have had tax stamps for marijuana and other street narcotics on the books for a long time already. You can still buy them and some are collectible [0].

They were used so they could add on even more jail time and so they could seize assets easily since taxes weren't being paid. There was a federal marijuana tax stamp too starting in the 30s I think but it was ruled partially unconstitutional (maybe in the early 70s?) since the way the law was written in order to purchase the stamp you had to incriminate yourself.

[0] http://terrefhosting.net/gerry/marijuanastamps/state-stamps....

Why is that excellent? Why can't people just grow and sell like they do any other plant?

Because capitalism & marking is too good at extracting value and promoting it's product. Just look at tobacco and alcholol.

Two reasons: one, it's still a drug, not as bad as tobacco or alcohol but still worth controlling. Two: it's a tempting tax base.

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