Proposition 19, a ballot initiative which would have legalized recreation marijuana use in California, went up in smoke during the midterm elections. It seems the youth vote didn’t come out in full force, probably because for a lot of people pot is cooler if it’s illegal.

Voters in several California cities, however, approved taxes on medicinal marijuana establishments or businesses that sell pot. So what’s the big deal? Why would anybody want pot taxed? The Tea Party is always ranting about how evil taxes are so what gives?

Well, taxes aren’t evil and supporters of Prop 19 argued the legalization of marijuana would be a financial boon to the state and local governments generated by the tax revenues.