State Ballot Initiative to Legalize, Tax Cannabis May Provide Additional Business to Local Shops

In a city known for its marijuana culture, a statewide initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana use slated for the November ballot could potentially benefit businesses and dispensaries in Berkeley.

If passed, the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010-approved for the ballot March 24-would decriminalize marijuana for adults over the age of 21, which could diminish the presence of the local black market and boost tax revenues through the potential increase in the number of organizations selling marijuana.

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