MARCH 20-26, 2023 20 · SBJ.NET Letters to the Editor Consider these 3 purposes when voting on weed sales tax Thanks to Sen. Hough for staunch opposition to video slot machines Dear editor, For better or worse, Missouri voters legalized the sale of recreational marijuana in November. The ballot initiative gave Missouri cities and counties the authority to establish a local 3% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana, subject to voter approval. This decision faces many Missouri voters in April. When consumption of a product is known to impose an unusual cost on society, a tax like the one voters are considering can serve three purposes: It can reduce consumption of the good through higher prices, it can generate funds to be used to address the harm done by use of the product or it can simply be used to increase local tax revenue. Those who oppose the tax may be generally critical of new taxes or worried by the effects of the price increases. Both concerns are valid. The first could be addressed by a plan whereby this tax replaces a more economically harmful one rather than simply adding to local coffers. Taxes will never go away, but we could demand more accountability in how and to what extent the government taxes us. Those concerned about the effect of the tax on the price of marijuana should remember that the sale of alcohol and cigarettes also have a special tax that aims to mitigate the risks associated with their use. These taxes can provide extra support to law enforcement or health care providers who will have to deal with the inevitable negative consequences for consumers who now have easy access to the good. Ultimately, the decision rests in the hands of voters, who should weigh the pros and cons of the tax relative to the circumstances of their own community and vote on what they deem best in April. —Maria Rivero and David Stokes, Show-Me Institute Dear editor, Citizens owe a debt of gratitude to state Sen. Lincoln Hough for steering the debate over legalized sports betting in Missouri in the right direction when he and other legislators spoke in a bipartisan voice against the continued proliferation of illegal video slot machines in communities across our state. Hough, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, led the vote to oppose proposed legislation that would legalize these gambling machines to operate in convenience stores, gas stations, bars and other retail locations in our area as part of a package to approve sports betting. Hough knows the majority of Missouri Republican voters oppose these machines, as evidenced by the results of a statewide survey conducted in January by Public Opinion Strategies. Missouri lawmakers have rejected several attempts in recent years to legalize these video slot machines outside of casinos, and we appreciate their continued support. The proposed regulatory framework for gaming expansion is extraordinarily weak. It would allow the Missouri Lottery, which is essentially a marketing entity, to become the regulator and enforcer of these machines. On the other hand, casinos are tightly regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission and the Highway Patrol. It’s unreasonable to suggest a new type of gaming entity be regulated by a different enforcement agency and a weaker regulatory structure than existing gaming businesses. These rogue gambling operators who are placing machines in businesses shouldn’t be rewarded with sweetheart deals. We need more legislators like Hough to stand up to aggressive lobbying in support of our children, families and communities. —Mike Moeller, Missouri Home Dock Cities Association Taxes will never go away, but we could demand more accountability in how and to what extent the government taxes us. The proposed regulatory framework for gaming expansion is extraordinarily weak. NETWORKING | LIVE INTERVIEW ASK YOUR QUESTIONS TUESDAY, MARCH 21 | 3:30-5 P.M. the backlot at alamo drafthouse Get more information and purchase tickets at SBJ.net/12People KAI SUTTON PRESIDENT, SPRINGFIELD NAACP PRESENTED BY WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW KAI SUTTON As the leader of the Springfield NAACP, Kai is using her past challenges as momentum for change by advocating for social justice and forming a charitable nonprofit.
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