January 2, 2010

January 01, 2010 CNN

Also in California, there's debate over whether medical marijuana is dangerous or unhealthy, but starting January 1st, Oakland will become the nation's first city to slap a sin tax on it.

REBECCA KAPLAN, OAKLAND CITY COUNCILWOMAN: While you're working on different budget strategies, here's one, you know, why not create a tax rate for the cannabis dispensaries.

FINNSTROM: Ironically, the ranks of the taxes supporters include many medical marijuana advocates who feel the tax legitimizes it. Laws regulating America's vices are nothing new, but as we enter 2010, with cash-strapped governments looking for additional revenue streams, you can expect more of the debate Kentucky saw in 2009 when part of its economic lifeblood, whiskey, got taxed. 2010 brings a whole slew of potential new so-called sin taxes. One under consideration right now, the tax on the fake tan.

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