Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jun 2010
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Sam Scott
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

CITIES EYE TAXES ON MARIJUANA

If California voters want to legalize it, Larry Robinson wants to tax it.

The Sebastopol councilman is asking his fellow city leaders to 
consider ways to tax marijuana sales if California voters approve a 
measure on the November ballot that would legalize pot.

The council is scheduled to discuss the idea at its meeting Tuesday 
night, joining a growing number of cities intrigued by the 
bottom-line benefits of taxing marijuana.

Robinson said he's not asking the council to take a stance on 
legalizing recreational use of cannabis. He just wants the city to 
position itself to move quickly if voters approve the November ballot 
measure, which would allow adults to possess and cultivate limited 
amounts of marijuana.

"It's just recognizing that there's a relatively good chance that 
this initiative will pass," Robinson said.  "I just want the city of 
Sebastopol to be in the best possible position to both regulate and tax it."

Robinson is proposing to place a measure before Sebastopol voters in 
November that would authorize the city to tax marijuana sales. The 
council must vote on the concept by August to make the ballot.

Robinson said he envisions a 1 percent to 2 percent local tax on all 
marijuana sales, both on existing sales of medical marijuana and 
potential future sales of pot for recreational use.

Rich Maloney, who purchases medical marijuana at the only cannabis 
dispensary in Sebastopol, Peace in Medicine Healing Center, said he 
would be willing to pay more if pot was taxed by local government. 
The state already taxes sales of medical marijuana.

He credits cannabis for getting him off a host of narcotics that he 
began taking after breaking his leg in a motorcycle accident a year 
and a half ago.

Robert Jacob, executive director of Peace in Medicine, which soon 
plans to open another clinic in Sebastopol, said he also welcomes 
paying more taxes.

The more the nonprofit business contributes to the community, the 
more people see it as a local asset, he said.

"Taxation provides legitimacy," he said.

Jacob, however, would only support the tax if Sonoma County adopts a 
similar policy. Otherwise Peace in Medicine would lose its ability to 
draw clients, he said.

Already, the clinic has to compete with dispensaries that have arisen 
since a Superior Court judge struck down Sonoma County's marijuana 
dispensary ordinance last December. The ruling is under appeal.

Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Kerns said he doesn't see the county 
taking on marijuana taxes in the near future. It's premature to act 
before state voters decide on the matter -- and before the appeals 
case on the county's dispensary ordinance is settled, he said.

As a former cop, Kerns also has concerns about legalizing a "gateway 
drug" that could lead to more problems.

Still other local leaders are more open to the idea.  Santa Rosa City 
Councilman Gary Wysocky said he would be interested in looking at 
marijuana businesses as part of an overhaul of business license fees 
or in addition to other "sin taxes."

"If it was legal, it should be taxed just like alcohol and tobacco," he said.

Other cities have already cashed in from marijuana sales. Last year, 
Oakland became first U.S. city to impose a local tax on medical 
marijuana dispensaries.

Berkeley leaders have recently discussed implementing taxes on 
recreational and medical use of the drug.

Discussions in Sebastopol are very much in the early stage. 
Councilman Guy Wilson said he is open to all intelligent ideas to 
raise revenue, but is not convinced that allowing recreational 
marijuana sales would be worth the burdens to the system.

"I am not convinced we have to do something right now," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake