Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2014
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2014 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.mercurynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Dennis Umphress
Page: A14

MARIJUANA BUSINESS TAX AN ATTACK ON PATIENTS

The San Jose City Council is considering asking November voters to
increase the current 10 percent marijuana business tax to as high as
25 percent after just passing strict new regulations on where and how
medical marijuana dispensaries can operate.

No one knows how the new regulations will impact the current $6
million annual revenue. The council should hold off asking voters to
raise the tax until they know how the new regulations will affect the
businesses.

Dispensaries get all of their funds from their patients, so patients
are the ones really paying this tax. This business tax is an attack on
patients. It is wrong to place this burden on the backs of sick
people. Some of these patients are low income and seriously to
terminally ill, and it is unfair to make them pay this tax increase.
Their lives already are tough enough. Patients deserve a break.

Dennis Umphress

San Jose
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MAP posted-by: Matt