Anti-Drug Bill Could Be Funded by Legal Pot

Fighting real drugs with taxed pot? It might be a question you're voting on soon.

Maine has seen a massive spike in heroin use. The news is lit up with a collage of stories pertaining to overdoses or 'big' drug busts. If these 'big' busts are happening so often, why are people still getting access to these drugs and dying? Drug Enforcement Agents are busting their tails everyday to stop distribution of these drugs. However, it's a uphill battle. To aid in this battle, Governor Paul LePage is calling for more man power for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and beyond.

Governor LePage wants to add 14 more MDEA agents to the force, along with four assistant attorney generals and four district court judges. The cost? $2 million. Ironically, what's considered to be a drug could be the key to fighting deadly drugs.

If Maine joined the ranks of Colorado and Washington with legal marijuana, big bills could get paid. Those bills include the $2 million anti-drug bill, as well as drug treatment and education resources.

Not sold on the idea? Consider this: Colorado pot shops made $14 million (collectively) IN ONE MONTH! From that month of sales, the state took in $2 million in pot tax. How much did LePage's anti-drug bill cost again? I should add Colorado's population is higher than Maine's. However, it's estimated that Maine could bring in $28 million annually off taxed, legal, marijuana. Colorado is expecting $134 million in pot tax by the end of the fiscal year.

Maine lawmakers will not vote to legalize Mary-J, only to put the question before voters.