EXCLUSIVE: Jim Belushi Speaks Out On Marijuana Reform, Says ‘Cannabis Doesn’t Kill Anybody, Alcohol Does’
At the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, actor and cannabis advocate Jim Belushi emphasized the urgent need for cannabis policy reform, particularly around banking and taxation. As the founder of Belushi’s Farm, he’s not only invested in the cultivation of cannabis, but also in changing the way the plant is regulated and perceived in both the medical and recreational spaces.
Belushi pointed out the stark contrast between how cannabis and alcohol are treated in terms of taxation, using Illinois as an example. “Last year, they collected $474 million in cannabis taxes and $272 million in liquor taxes. And there are a lot more liquor stores and bars than dispensaries,” Belushi said, highlighting the disproportionate burden placed on the cannabis industry.