F. Aaron Smith

Marijuana Taxes to be Part of City Budget Fix

by F. Aaron Smith

Yesterday, voters in Oakland, California overwhelmingly approved a proposal, backed by the city’s medical marijuana community, that will create a new local sales tax for marijuana. The initiative, “Measure F,” was one of  four budget-related measures in a vote-by-mail special election called by a city faced with a projected budget deficit of $83 million.

Medical marijuana collectives teamed up with city officials to propose the new tax, set at 1.8% of gross sales. The tax is expected to generate close to $300,000 for the city next year.

It’s not every day that an industry stands up and says “tax us more.” MPP commends Oakland’s four medical marijuana collectives for stepping up to the plate and helping the bridge the city’s budget gap.

This is the first time a municipality has levied a special tax on marijuana. For now, the tax will only apply to medical marijuana collectives, but once adult marijuana use is legal in California, it will apply to all sales.

A similar movement to tax medical marijuana sales is also underway in Los Angeles.

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10 comments

1 JD { 07.22.09 at 9:36 am }

I hope the DEA arrests Oakland

2 adle1984 { 07.22.09 at 9:41 am }

@ JD: LOL! I had a good laugh.

I’m so happy that our persistence and undying efforts are being rewarded with progress and change! Keep up the fight everyone!!!

One person at a time, one city at a time, one state at a time, one nation united in the end!

3 Beyond da smoke { 07.22.09 at 9:58 am }

If the DEA does try to do something in okland it will be the end of them lol! Damn I hope this hits Va soon!

4 David { 07.22.09 at 10:39 am }

The DEA are losing this war, city by city and soon, state by state. :)

5 Beyond da smoke { 07.22.09 at 11:06 am }

:gun:

6 R.O.E. { 07.22.09 at 2:21 pm }

Come on DEA and fed government,pls, step on the will of the voters now. See what happens.

7 steven in Iowa { 07.23.09 at 1:47 am }

well, i guess the dea in that state will end up looking for new jobs!!!!!! LOL!!!!
Legalize it!!!!!!!

8 michael { 07.23.09 at 5:26 am }

OXFORD MISSISSIPPI THE U.S.A. HAS A 6 ACRE MARIJUANA FARM AND THEY USE THE CROP FOR MEDICATION FOR SOME ABOUT 3 OR 4 AMERICANS,I AM JUST TRYING TO TELL EVERYONE THE TRUTH,AND THEY WILL HAVE TO EITHER GIVE ALL AMERICANS MARIJUANA RIGHTS OR GO TO HELL.

9 standupforfreedom { 07.23.09 at 10:50 am }

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/7/white-people-gonna-riot-825433.html

10 Some California Cities Still Violating Medical Marijuana Laws « Much To Say About Nothing { 10.19.09 at 4:26 pm }

[...] experienced by dozens of California cities and counties regulating — and in one case, even taxing — medical marijuana sales, some municipalities have seen fit to shutter all open access to [...]

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