Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
If there is one thing supporters and opponents of medical marijuana agree on in Long Beach, it's that the sale of medical pot should be taxed.
But that agreement ends when the amount of the tax is discussed.
To clear away the confusion, the editorial board is endorsing Measure MA on the Nov. 8 ballot.
MA is a tax on medical and recreational marijuana that would raise an estimated $13 million annually to pay for public safety and regulation of the marijuana industry.
Under MA, medical marijuana sales would be taxed at 6-8 percent of gross receipts and recreational marijuana would be taxed at 8-12 percent of gross receipts.
Mayor Robert Garcia and other city leaders argue that these additional monies would be needed to maintain a safe community if two other initiatives on the ballot are passed to legalize recreational marijuana (state Proposition 64) and medical marijuana (Measure MM).
We agree that this money would be needed to support additional public safety and other enforcement and regulatory expenses.
Opponents argue that their Measure, MM, would also tax medical pot sales but at a lower rate that would be fairer to marijuana patients.
They say their lower rate would bring in an estimated $5 million to the city.
But the city argues that the real cost, if both pot measures pass, would be closer to $13 million and the only way to pay for that is through a higher tax rate.
The City Council voted to place MA on the ballot in August, one month after MM qualified, because officials feared the city would not get enough tax revenue to fund costs associated with licensing new businesses and funding various public health and safety resources if MM passed.
The divided City Council could not agree on a pot plan of its own so the citizen initiative was placed on the ballot.
It should be made clear that a vote for MA is not necessarily a vote to legalize medical marijuana. A "Yes" vote for MA simply means enough money would be raised to pay for additional public safety and health costs if pot legalization passes.
The editorial board feels that MA is a sensible and fair solution to supporting a smooth transition to pot legalization. It would help public trust if the city used the sales tax oversight committee to oversee the use of these additional funds.
There is another caveat in this confusing marijuana scenario. If both Measure MM and MA are approved, the city's tax rate will depend on which measure receives more votes. That should be MA.
The editorial board is endorsing both the state legalization of recreational marijuana through Prop. 64 and the legalization of medical marijuana in Long Beach through Measure MM.
However, we also are strongly endorsing Measure MA to pay the added costs of setting up and regulating marijuana businesses.
If MA fails to get more votes than MM, the city would have to cut services or take money from other city departments to pay for the additional marijuana costs.
We feel it is time to legalize the use of marijuana while at the same time approving a tax rate which will pay the additional bills.
The editorial board supports a "Yes" vote on Measure MA, Measure MM and Prop. 64.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Yes On MA - Costs Of Pot Should Be Covered - Endorsement
Author: The Editorial Board
Contact: (562) 435-1161
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Press-Telegram
But that agreement ends when the amount of the tax is discussed.
To clear away the confusion, the editorial board is endorsing Measure MA on the Nov. 8 ballot.
MA is a tax on medical and recreational marijuana that would raise an estimated $13 million annually to pay for public safety and regulation of the marijuana industry.
Under MA, medical marijuana sales would be taxed at 6-8 percent of gross receipts and recreational marijuana would be taxed at 8-12 percent of gross receipts.
Mayor Robert Garcia and other city leaders argue that these additional monies would be needed to maintain a safe community if two other initiatives on the ballot are passed to legalize recreational marijuana (state Proposition 64) and medical marijuana (Measure MM).
We agree that this money would be needed to support additional public safety and other enforcement and regulatory expenses.
Opponents argue that their Measure, MM, would also tax medical pot sales but at a lower rate that would be fairer to marijuana patients.
They say their lower rate would bring in an estimated $5 million to the city.
But the city argues that the real cost, if both pot measures pass, would be closer to $13 million and the only way to pay for that is through a higher tax rate.
The City Council voted to place MA on the ballot in August, one month after MM qualified, because officials feared the city would not get enough tax revenue to fund costs associated with licensing new businesses and funding various public health and safety resources if MM passed.
The divided City Council could not agree on a pot plan of its own so the citizen initiative was placed on the ballot.
It should be made clear that a vote for MA is not necessarily a vote to legalize medical marijuana. A "Yes" vote for MA simply means enough money would be raised to pay for additional public safety and health costs if pot legalization passes.
The editorial board feels that MA is a sensible and fair solution to supporting a smooth transition to pot legalization. It would help public trust if the city used the sales tax oversight committee to oversee the use of these additional funds.
There is another caveat in this confusing marijuana scenario. If both Measure MM and MA are approved, the city's tax rate will depend on which measure receives more votes. That should be MA.
The editorial board is endorsing both the state legalization of recreational marijuana through Prop. 64 and the legalization of medical marijuana in Long Beach through Measure MM.
However, we also are strongly endorsing Measure MA to pay the added costs of setting up and regulating marijuana businesses.
If MA fails to get more votes than MM, the city would have to cut services or take money from other city departments to pay for the additional marijuana costs.
We feel it is time to legalize the use of marijuana while at the same time approving a tax rate which will pay the additional bills.
The editorial board supports a "Yes" vote on Measure MA, Measure MM and Prop. 64.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Yes On MA - Costs Of Pot Should Be Covered - Endorsement
Author: The Editorial Board
Contact: (562) 435-1161
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Press-Telegram