Oakland (Calif.) voters pass pot tax to boost city coffers

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Oakland residents overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to approve a first-of-its kind tax on medical marijuana sold at the city's four cannabis dispensaries.

Preliminary election results showed the measure passing with 80 percent of the vote, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

The dispensary tax was one of four measures in a vote-by-mail special election aimed at raising money for the cash-strapped city. All four measures won, but Measure F had the highest level of support.

Scheduled to take effect on New Year's Day, the measure created a special business tax rate for the pot clubs, which now pay the same $1.20 for every $1,000 in gross sales applied to all retail businesses. The new rate will be $18.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/21/national/a195450D26.DTL

[earcandle]

1. How cool is that? Whoah, SF you are being left in the dust by Oakland!

[Liberty Belle]

2. Many medical MJ users are sick people on fixed incomes/disability.

Any tax should exempt those on low incomes, in my view.

[BobTheSubgenius]

3. I agree completely.

These people aren't sitting in front of the TV, giggling and eating Cheetos. They're SICK!

[winyanstaz]

4. I agree...

It is past time to put a stop to people making profits off of sick poor people.

[Flaneur]

5. The tax is on the dispensaries, not the patients.

And, trying to be responsible corporate citizens, the dispensaries ASKED for the tax, so I don't think you will see price increases.

[xchrom]

6. i live in oakland -- and i want to +1 your comments.

it's good for the dispensaries -- and it's good marketing that these dispensaries are participating for the good of the community.