在美國選舉日當(dāng)天,,有5個州將決定娛樂用大麻(亞利桑那、蒙大拿,、新澤西和南達(dá)科他)或醫(yī)用大麻(南達(dá)科他和密西西比)合法化的投票提案,。與此同時,路易斯安納,、馬里蘭和南達(dá)科他還將就體育博彩不同程度上的合法化的提案進(jìn)行表決,。
全民公投這種做法在一定程度上體現(xiàn)出公眾對于大麻和博彩業(yè)的態(tài)度正在發(fā)生改變。目前,,經(jīng)營這兩個行業(yè)在美國大部分地區(qū)依舊屬于犯罪行為,。但它們正在美國許多地區(qū)逐漸被接受。盡管美國聯(lián)邦政府對大麻依舊采取禁止的態(tài)度,,現(xiàn)在有11個州以及哥倫比亞特區(qū)都承認(rèn)娛樂用大麻合法化,。2018年,美國最高法院決定推翻聯(lián)邦政府對體育博彩的禁令,,目前有22個州以及哥倫比亞特區(qū)均允許開展體育博彩,。
或許未來幾年這兩個行業(yè)的擴(kuò)張本在意料當(dāng)中,但新冠疫情可能進(jìn)一步刺激更多州采取措施,,將大麻和體育博彩合法化,。由于新冠疫情的影響,美國各州正在經(jīng)歷史無前例的預(yù)算不足,。疫情破壞了美國的經(jīng)濟(jì),,還導(dǎo)致各地政府維持運(yùn)營所依賴的稅收枯竭。各州有機(jī)會通過將這兩個新興的自由化行業(yè)合法化,,將其納入監(jiān)管并進(jìn)行課稅,,來彌補(bǔ)財政預(yù)算的不足。
博彩網(wǎng)站Pennbets.com的體育博彩行業(yè)分析師克里斯?阿爾特魯達(dá)表示,,新冠疫情過后,,“體育博彩行業(yè)必定會迎來發(fā)展的良機(jī)?!彼麑⒃撔袠I(yè)描述為各州增加稅收的一個“低維護(hù)”解決方案,。
同樣,大麻科技公司W(wǎng)eedmaps的政府關(guān)系副總裁布里奇特?亨尼西認(rèn)為,,大麻行業(yè)為急需資金的各地政府提供了“一個經(jīng)濟(jì)機(jī)遇和刺激經(jīng)濟(jì)增長的途徑,?!?“你看美國所有地區(qū)都在一定程度上想要發(fā)展大麻行業(yè)?!?/p>
紐約州州長安德魯?科莫最近重申了他有意在本州將大麻合法化,。由于新冠疫情造成的經(jīng)濟(jì)沖擊,預(yù)計(jì)未來兩年,,紐約州的預(yù)算赤字將達(dá)到近600億美元,。新澤西州有可能在11月通過本州的娛樂用大麻管理措施,將成為大西洋中部地區(qū)第一個將大麻合法化的州,,這可能會迫使紐約州等周邊各州跟進(jìn),,否則它們將失去客戶到哈德遜河對岸購買大麻產(chǎn)品所帶來的收入。
新澤西律師事務(wù)所Cole Schotz的大麻法律業(yè)務(wù)聯(lián)席董事長羅伯特?迪皮薩表示:“隨著新澤西州將大麻合法化,,周邊各州將面臨壓力,。周邊各州將錯過一次增加稅收的機(jī)會。我認(rèn)為這會產(chǎn)生多米諾骨牌效應(yīng),?!?/p>
同樣,各州的議員也在增加對體育博彩合法化的關(guān)注,,盡管這個行業(yè)帶來的稅收無法與大部分娛樂用大麻市場相提并論,。由政府監(jiān)管的體育博彩市場每年能給州政府增加數(shù)百萬美元財政收入,這對于急需資金的部門和項(xiàng)目來說意義重大,。
在線體育博彩公司FanDuel的政府事務(wù)副總裁科里???怂贡硎荆骸拔医?jīng)常與各州的議員交流,確實(shí)有多地政府都在尋找[稅收]收入來源,。他們對于[體育博彩]合法化的問題已經(jīng)斟酌了許多年,。他們既有公眾的支持,也可以借鑒其他州的監(jiān)管框架,?!?/p>
例如,馬里蘭州在11月大選中的一項(xiàng)公投將允許在該州境內(nèi)經(jīng)營體育博彩,,該行業(yè)帶來的稅收將用于發(fā)展公共教育,。同樣,科羅拉多州在去年通過了體育博彩立法,,允許將從該行業(yè)所得的收入用于管理該州的供水,。阿爾特魯達(dá)表示:“如果政府對公眾說:‘我們要將這筆[稅收]資金投入到某些項(xiàng)目當(dāng)中’,,而不是僅將其作為公共資金的一部分,,公眾就能更容易接受”這個行業(yè)的合法化。
當(dāng)然,,即使是這兩個行業(yè)最樂觀的倡議者也不認(rèn)為,,僅靠將大麻或體育博彩合法化就能緩解各州的預(yù)算緊張,以及許多州在疫情過后面臨的數(shù)十億美元的虧空。美國國家大麻產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會(National Cannabis Industry Association,,NCIA)發(fā)言人摩根???怂贡硎荆骸按舐閹淼亩愂照炔涣巳魏我粋€州的預(yù)算。但一切都會有所幫助,。這些州推出受管制的[大麻]市場之后,,能夠帶來數(shù)億美元[稅收]?!?/p>
娛樂用大麻市場最為成熟的州每年能從該行業(yè)獲得數(shù)億美元稅收,。在美國最大的娛樂用大麻市場加利福尼亞州,大麻自2018年年初以來已經(jīng)給該州帶來了超過10億美元稅收,。相比之下,,據(jù)美國博彩協(xié)會(American Gaming Association,AGA)統(tǒng)計(jì),,自2018年以來,,美國規(guī)模高達(dá)258億美元的合法體育博彩市場,僅為各州和地方政府創(chuàng)造了2.31億美元稅收,。
事實(shí)上,,這兩個行業(yè)內(nèi)的一些從業(yè)者擔(dān)心,稅收可能給經(jīng)營者和消費(fèi)者造成沉重的負(fù)擔(dān),。國家大麻產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會的??怂贡硎荆舐殇N售稅“設(shè)定的水平必須足夠低,,才能與繼續(xù)運(yùn)營的非法地下市場相競爭”,。美國博彩協(xié)會的發(fā)言人凱西?克拉克表示,體育博彩是“一個低利潤市場”,,它“并不是解決所有人的預(yù)算問題的萬能藥,。”
但這兩個行業(yè)目前的狀況讓大部分人都?xì)g欣鼓舞:如今美國各州為了發(fā)展地方經(jīng)濟(jì),,會利用各種手段,,在這種形勢下,這兩個行業(yè)正在逐漸被數(shù)十個州接受,,而且數(shù)量還在增多,。
福克斯表示:“各州的改革速度剛剛開始加速,。除了稅收以外,,受監(jiān)管的大麻市場能夠?yàn)槲覀儎?chuàng)造迫切需要的數(shù)萬個就業(yè)崗位?!彼硎?,美國合法大麻行業(yè)目前的雇傭人數(shù)約為25萬人,。
體育博彩行業(yè)中也存在類似的觀點(diǎn)。美國博彩協(xié)會的克拉克表示:“在各州預(yù)算緊張的情況下,,會有一些將體育博彩行業(yè)合法化的動力和機(jī)會,。我們希望把這件事做好。這并不是一次加速上市的機(jī)會,。我們必須確保各州執(zhí)行正確的政策和框架,。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
在美國選舉日當(dāng)天,,有5個州將決定娛樂用大麻(亞利桑那,、蒙大拿、新澤西和南達(dá)科他)或醫(yī)用大麻(南達(dá)科他和密西西比)合法化的投票提案,。與此同時,,路易斯安納、馬里蘭和南達(dá)科他還將就體育博彩不同程度上的合法化的提案進(jìn)行表決,。
全民公投這種做法在一定程度上體現(xiàn)出公眾對于大麻和博彩業(yè)的態(tài)度正在發(fā)生改變,。目前,經(jīng)營這兩個行業(yè)在美國大部分地區(qū)依舊屬于犯罪行為,。但它們正在美國許多地區(qū)逐漸被接受,。盡管美國聯(lián)邦政府對大麻依舊采取禁止的態(tài)度,現(xiàn)在有11個州以及哥倫比亞特區(qū)都承認(rèn)娛樂用大麻合法化,。2018年,,美國最高法院決定推翻聯(lián)邦政府對體育博彩的禁令,目前有22個州以及哥倫比亞特區(qū)均允許開展體育博彩,。
或許未來幾年這兩個行業(yè)的擴(kuò)張本在意料當(dāng)中,,但新冠疫情可能進(jìn)一步刺激更多州采取措施,將大麻和體育博彩合法化,。由于新冠疫情的影響,,美國各州正在經(jīng)歷史無前例的預(yù)算不足。疫情破壞了美國的經(jīng)濟(jì),,還導(dǎo)致各地政府維持運(yùn)營所依賴的稅收枯竭,。各州有機(jī)會通過將這兩個新興的自由化行業(yè)合法化,將其納入監(jiān)管并進(jìn)行課稅,,來彌補(bǔ)財政預(yù)算的不足,。
博彩網(wǎng)站Pennbets.com的體育博彩行業(yè)分析師克里斯?阿爾特魯達(dá)表示,新冠疫情過后,,“體育博彩行業(yè)必定會迎來發(fā)展的良機(jī),。”他將該行業(yè)描述為各州增加稅收的一個“低維護(hù)”解決方案,。
同樣,,大麻科技公司W(wǎng)eedmaps的政府關(guān)系副總裁布里奇特?亨尼西認(rèn)為,,大麻行業(yè)為急需資金的各地政府提供了“一個經(jīng)濟(jì)機(jī)遇和刺激經(jīng)濟(jì)增長的途徑,?!?“你看美國所有地區(qū)都在一定程度上想要發(fā)展大麻行業(yè)?!?/p>
紐約州州長安德魯?科莫最近重申了他有意在本州將大麻合法化,。由于新冠疫情造成的經(jīng)濟(jì)沖擊,預(yù)計(jì)未來兩年,,紐約州的預(yù)算赤字將達(dá)到近600億美元,。新澤西州有可能在11月通過本州的娛樂用大麻管理措施,將成為大西洋中部地區(qū)第一個將大麻合法化的州,,這可能會迫使紐約州等周邊各州跟進(jìn),,否則它們將失去客戶到哈德遜河對岸購買大麻產(chǎn)品所帶來的收入。
新澤西律師事務(wù)所Cole Schotz的大麻法律業(yè)務(wù)聯(lián)席董事長羅伯特?迪皮薩表示:“隨著新澤西州將大麻合法化,,周邊各州將面臨壓力,。周邊各州將錯過一次增加稅收的機(jī)會。我認(rèn)為這會產(chǎn)生多米諾骨牌效應(yīng),?!?/p>
同樣,各州的議員也在增加對體育博彩合法化的關(guān)注,,盡管這個行業(yè)帶來的稅收無法與大部分娛樂用大麻市場相提并論,。由政府監(jiān)管的體育博彩市場每年能給州政府增加數(shù)百萬美元財政收入,這對于急需資金的部門和項(xiàng)目來說意義重大,。
在線體育博彩公司FanDuel的政府事務(wù)副總裁科里???怂贡硎荆骸拔医?jīng)常與各州的議員交流,確實(shí)有多地政府都在尋找[稅收]收入來源,。他們對于[體育博彩]合法化的問題已經(jīng)斟酌了許多年,。他們既有公眾的支持,也可以借鑒其他州的監(jiān)管框架,?!?/p>
例如,馬里蘭州在11月大選中的一項(xiàng)公投將允許在該州境內(nèi)經(jīng)營體育博彩,,該行業(yè)帶來的稅收將用于發(fā)展公共教育,。同樣,科羅拉多州在去年通過了體育博彩立法,,允許將從該行業(yè)所得的收入用于管理該州的供水,。阿爾特魯達(dá)表示:“如果政府對公眾說:‘我們要將這筆[稅收]資金投入到某些項(xiàng)目當(dāng)中’,而不是僅將其作為公共資金的一部分,,公眾就能更容易接受”這個行業(yè)的合法化,。
當(dāng)然,,即使是這兩個行業(yè)最樂觀的倡議者也不認(rèn)為,僅靠將大麻或體育博彩合法化就能緩解各州的預(yù)算緊張,,以及許多州在疫情過后面臨的數(shù)十億美元的虧空,。美國國家大麻產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會(National Cannabis Industry Association,NCIA)發(fā)言人摩根???怂贡硎荆骸按舐閹淼亩愂照炔涣巳魏我粋€州的預(yù)算,。但一切都會有所幫助。這些州推出受管制的[大麻]市場之后,,能夠帶來數(shù)億美元[稅收],。”
娛樂用大麻市場最為成熟的州每年能從該行業(yè)獲得數(shù)億美元稅收,。在美國最大的娛樂用大麻市場加利福尼亞州,,大麻自2018年年初以來已經(jīng)給該州帶來了超過10億美元稅收。相比之下,,據(jù)美國博彩協(xié)會(American Gaming Association,,AGA)統(tǒng)計(jì),自2018年以來,,美國規(guī)模高達(dá)258億美元的合法體育博彩市場,,僅為各州和地方政府創(chuàng)造了2.31億美元稅收。
事實(shí)上,,這兩個行業(yè)內(nèi)的一些從業(yè)者擔(dān)心,,稅收可能給經(jīng)營者和消費(fèi)者造成沉重的負(fù)擔(dān)。國家大麻產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會的??怂贡硎?,大麻銷售稅“設(shè)定的水平必須足夠低,才能與繼續(xù)運(yùn)營的非法地下市場相競爭”,。美國博彩協(xié)會的發(fā)言人凱西?克拉克表示,,體育博彩是“一個低利潤市場”,它“并不是解決所有人的預(yù)算問題的萬能藥,?!?/p>
但這兩個行業(yè)目前的狀況讓大部分人都?xì)g欣鼓舞:如今美國各州為了發(fā)展地方經(jīng)濟(jì),會利用各種手段,,在這種形勢下,,這兩個行業(yè)正在逐漸被數(shù)十個州接受,而且數(shù)量還在增多,。
??怂贡硎荆骸案髦莸母母锼俣葎倓傞_始加速,。除了稅收以外,,受監(jiān)管的大麻市場能夠?yàn)槲覀儎?chuàng)造迫切需要的數(shù)萬個就業(yè)崗位?!彼硎?,美國合法大麻行業(yè)目前的雇傭人數(shù)約為25萬人,。
體育博彩行業(yè)中也存在類似的觀點(diǎn),。美國博彩協(xié)會的克拉克表示:“在各州預(yù)算緊張的情況下,,會有一些將體育博彩行業(yè)合法化的動力和機(jī)會。我們希望把這件事做好,。這并不是一次加速上市的機(jī)會,。我們必須確保各州執(zhí)行正確的政策和框架,?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
On Election Day, voters in five states will decide ballot initiatives that would legalize cannabis use either recreationally (Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota) or medicinally (South Dakota and Mississippi). Meanwhile, those in Louisiana, Maryland, and South Dakota will vote on initiatives that would legalize sports betting, to varying degrees, in their own states.
The ballot measures speak partly to changing public attitudes toward both marijuana use and gambling, activities that remain criminalized in large swaths of the country. Yet, both have been gradually accepted in jurisdictions across the U.S. Despite the continued federal prohibition of cannabis, recreational adult use of marijuana is now legal in 11 states plus the District of Columbia, while the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse a federal ban on sports betting in 2018 has seen the practice now allowed in 22 states plus D.C.
If those numbers were already expected to swell in the coming years, the coronavirus pandemic could further motivate more states to adopt measures legalizing cannabis and sports betting. Across the country, states are experiencing historic budget shortfalls as a result of the pandemic, which has devastated the American economy and drained government coffers of the tax revenue they rely on. In the two nascent, newly liberalized industries, there is an opportunity for states to begin making up some of those deficits by legalizing, regulating, and taxing them.
“There’s definitely a growth opportunity for sports betting” in the wake of COVID-19, according to Chris Altruda, a sports betting industry analyst at Pennbets.com, who described the industry as a “l(fā)ow-maintenance” solution for states looking for additional tax revenue.
Likewise, the cannabis industry provides “an economic opportunity, and a way to build some stimulus” for jurisdictions now in need of funding, according to Bridget Hennessey, vice president of government relations at Weedmaps. “You’re seeing across the country that there’s some appetite for this.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo recently reiterated his interest in legalizing marijuana in his state, which expects to run a budget deficit of nearly $60 billion over the next two years due to the pandemic’s economic impact. As New Jersey appears likely to pass its own recreational measure this November—becoming the first mid-Atlantic state to legalize cannabis in the process—the onus will fall on neighbors like New York to follow suit, or else risk losing revenue from customers willing to cross the Hudson River to purchase products.
“With New Jersey coming online, it will put pressure on neighboring states. That is tax revenue that neighboring states are missing out on,” says Robert DiPisa, co-chair of the cannabis law group at New Jersey-based law firm Cole Schotz. “I do think it’s going to create a domino effect.”
Likewise, state lawmakers are increasingly considering legal sports betting, even though tax revenues from that industry are limited compared to most recreational cannabis markets. But a regulated sports gambling market can still generate millions of dollars annually for state coffers—meaningful funding for departments and programs in need of every dollar they can get.
“I talk to legislators fairly regularly, and it’s definitely the case that many are looking for sources of [tax] revenue,” says Cory Fox, vice president of government affairs at online sports gaming company FanDuel. “They’ve been thinking about [sports betting] for a number of years. There’s general public support for it, and there’s a regulatory framework that they can take from other states.”
In Maryland, for instance, a ballot measure in November’s election that would permit sports betting in the state would earmark the generated tax revenue for public education. Similarly, Colorado passed its own sports betting law last year by promising that proceeds would fund the state’s management of its water supply. Legalization “seems to be an easier sell to the public if you say, ‘We’re going to take this [tax] money and put it toward something specific,’ rather than just putting it toward a general fund,” Altruda notes.
Of course, not even the most bullish advocate for either industry believes legalizing cannabis or sports betting alone will alleviate states’ budget strains, such are the multibillion-dollar shortfalls facing many post-pandemic. “Cannabis taxes aren’t going to save any state budgets,” says National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) spokesperson Morgan Fox. “But everything helps. We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars [of tax revenue] in these states with regulated [marijuana] markets.”
The states with the most mature recreational cannabis markets see hundreds of millions of dollars a year in tax revenue from the industry—with California, the largest recreational market in the nation, generating more than $1 billion since the start of 2018. By contrast, the $25.8 billion wagered legally on sports in the U.S. since 2018 has generated only $231 million in tax revenue for state and local governments, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).
Indeed, there are those in both industries who are wary of taxes that may prove too burdensome for operators and consumers alike. NCIA’s Fox notes that cannabis sales taxes “have to be set at a rate where they’re low enough to compete with the unregulated, underground market” that continues to operate. And AGA spokesperson Casey Clark described sports betting as “a low-margin business” that “is not the panacea that is going to solve everyone’s budget issues.”
But for the most part, both industries are thrilled to be in the position they are now: gradually embraced by dozens of state jurisdictions and counting, at a time when the local economies across the country can use any jolt they can get.
“The pace at which these reforms are happening at the state level are only increasing,” Fox says, noting that roughly 250,000 people are employed by the legal cannabis industry in the U.S. “Aside from tax revenue, regulated cannabis markets create tens of thousands of new jobs, and we certainly need that.”
A similar sentiment exists on the sports gambling side. “There’s some momentum and opportunity to be had with the budget shortfalls,” says AGA’s Clark. “This is something that we want to get right. It’s not a speed-to-market opportunity. We have to make sure the right policies and frameworks are in place.”