Murray Anderson Sr. appeared before a Unified Government committee on Monday night to advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana possession in Wyandotte County.
Anderson, a business owner, told the UG Administration and Human Services Committee that the UG needs to help take advantage of the burgeoning marijuana industry that has already taken hold in Colorado and some other states. Marijuana possession is still illegal in Kansas currently.
Anderson told the UG Committee that there is a tremendous amount of money that could be taxed, and then the taxes could be used in the community and state to solve problems.
He proposed taxing the sale of marijuana at 25 percent and then dedicating this tax to fund entrepreneurship or venture capital for micro-enterprises.
He said he was bringing his idea to the attention of state officials as well.
Some years ago, Anderson proposed selling the Board of Public Utilities to a private company and using the proceeds to fund entrepreneurship or venture capital for small enterprises.
Anderson stated that laws against marijuana use originally were passed to target minorities. Decriminalizing marijuana possession would be an opportunity for the UG to stop that in this community and to take a leadership role on the issue, according to Anderson.
It also would save the state and local governments money on jail and prison space, according to Anderson.
The UG Committee members attending the meeting did not have any comments on Anderson’s proposal, and took no action on it.