Don Walton: Marijuana revenue decision may lie ahead | News

A voter photo ID requirement, legalization of medical marijuana, a minimum wage increase.

Things are looking up for potential voter turnout in a non-presidential election year if petition drives to place those issues on the 2022 general election ballot are successful.

And there could be more to come, perhaps including proposed legalization of recreational marijuana sales and use by adults.

That would be a tempting new revenue source that could produce some strange bedfellows.

No doubt, property tax reduction advocates may eye that as a rich opportunity for more property tax reduction revenue following on the heels of the successful 2020 casino gambling initiative that allocated 70% of the revenue from a 20% tax on the resulting gaming revenue to property tax relief.

The casino gambling initiative allocated a scant 2.5% of the resulting revenue to state government, essentially denying state programs and services any real benefits from what could grow into a substantial new revenue stream.

Colorado has collected more than $1.6 billion in state revenue from marijuana sales during the past six years.

If a recreational marijuana proposal does reach the ballot in Nebraska, the fundamental question for voters ought to be whether recreational marijuana sales and use should be legalized.

But if recreational marijuana sales might be authorized, the question is whether state government should be denied the potential revenue to help build a stronger university, tackle the long-delayed and hugely expensive task of correctional services reform, meet the state’s health and human services needs, and address its future challenges.

That revenue distribution decision rests largely with sponsors who would draft the language of such a proposal.