Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
It is time that our laws regarding marijuana reflect reality.
The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been legal in California since 1996, when voters approved Proposition 215. Granted, there were many fits and starts to find ways to make that usage viable through regulation. But in 2010 the California Supreme Court settled many questions by eliminating amendments to Prop. 215 - sale and use of medical marijuana became common in the state.
Long Beach struggled more than most, having one attempt at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries thrown out by that same Supreme Court, then banning dispensary operation while trying to cobble new rules together.
Those efforts failed, repeatedly and miserably. After a last-ditch try in late 2015, the City Council collectively threw up their hands and opened the door to a citizens' initiative.
The result was Measure MM on the Nov. 8 ballot. While MM allows several more dispensaries than any contemplated city measure - one dispensary for every 18,000 people (26 or 27) in the city versus nine or 18, based on City Council districts - it also defines location and operation restrictions. It even makes provisions mirroring state law regarding potency, quality and contamination tests.
It should be noted here that there still are no definitive research results showing that marijuana has positive medicinal properties. But anecdotal evidence convinces many that it does help deal with symptoms - enough it continues to receive voter approval.
There are some problems with MM, particularly in regards to taxing and fees. Still, the reality is that medical marijuana is here to stay, and Measure MM does give a framework for rational regulation of the business of dispensing marijuana.
We will be voting yes on Measure MM.
One provision of MM sets taxes on retail sales of medical marijuana at 6%, with a flat $10 per square foot charge to cultivators. It would eliminate any tax on sales of recreational marijuana (again, we'll deal with that in a minute). Representatives of the Long Beach Collective Association point out that dispensaries also would be required to pay regular business license fees, including plan check and other startup taxes, but that simply isn't enough to cover city regulatory and enforcement costs.
Enter Measure MA.
Put on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the City Council, Measure MA is a tax measure, pure and simple. It would tax medical marijuana - if sale of medical marijuana is approved by passage of Measure MM. It would tax recreational marijuana - if sale of recreational marijuana is approved statewide by Proposition 64. If neither pro marijuana bill passes, Measure MA becomes a moot point.
But if marijuana, medicinal or recreational, is to be sold in Long Beach, Measure MA becomes vital at least according to city officials. MA would tax medicinal marijuana at 6-8%, starting at 6%. It also would tax wholesale distribution and manufacturing at the same 6-8%, with cultivation taxed at $12-$15 a square foot, starting at $12. Most importantly, sale of recreational marijuana would be taxed at 8-12%, starting at 8%.
City estimates are that MA would bring in about $12 million the first year while MM would top out at about $5 million. Again, by city estimate, it will cost around $13 million to provide adequate regulation and enforcement.
If both Measure MM and Prop. 64 pass and Measure MA fails, Long Beach will be in the strange position of taxing sales of "medicine" while not taxing purchases for recreation. If Measure MM passes with more votes than Measure MA, the far lower tax formula would be law.
We're convinced that the city needs the revenue Measure MA would generate. Vote yes on Measure MA.
It seems unfair to devote only a few words to an issue that has been debated literally for generations - legalization of marijuana as a recreational drug. But on the other hand, it would seem that pretty much everything has been said, not once, but many times.
Our primary concerns are enforcement of things like underage use and driving while under the influence. At least with a law in place, underage use can be handled openly. It will take trial and error to determine the best way to judge and handle driving under the influence.
It's time for law to reflect reality. It may be reluctantly, but it is a yes vote on Prop. 64 as well.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Editorial - Marijuana Initiatives All Deserve Yes Votes
Author: Staff
Contact: 562-433-2000
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Gazettes
The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been legal in California since 1996, when voters approved Proposition 215. Granted, there were many fits and starts to find ways to make that usage viable through regulation. But in 2010 the California Supreme Court settled many questions by eliminating amendments to Prop. 215 - sale and use of medical marijuana became common in the state.
Long Beach struggled more than most, having one attempt at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries thrown out by that same Supreme Court, then banning dispensary operation while trying to cobble new rules together.
Those efforts failed, repeatedly and miserably. After a last-ditch try in late 2015, the City Council collectively threw up their hands and opened the door to a citizens' initiative.
The result was Measure MM on the Nov. 8 ballot. While MM allows several more dispensaries than any contemplated city measure - one dispensary for every 18,000 people (26 or 27) in the city versus nine or 18, based on City Council districts - it also defines location and operation restrictions. It even makes provisions mirroring state law regarding potency, quality and contamination tests.
It should be noted here that there still are no definitive research results showing that marijuana has positive medicinal properties. But anecdotal evidence convinces many that it does help deal with symptoms - enough it continues to receive voter approval.
There are some problems with MM, particularly in regards to taxing and fees. Still, the reality is that medical marijuana is here to stay, and Measure MM does give a framework for rational regulation of the business of dispensing marijuana.
We will be voting yes on Measure MM.
One provision of MM sets taxes on retail sales of medical marijuana at 6%, with a flat $10 per square foot charge to cultivators. It would eliminate any tax on sales of recreational marijuana (again, we'll deal with that in a minute). Representatives of the Long Beach Collective Association point out that dispensaries also would be required to pay regular business license fees, including plan check and other startup taxes, but that simply isn't enough to cover city regulatory and enforcement costs.
Enter Measure MA.
Put on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the City Council, Measure MA is a tax measure, pure and simple. It would tax medical marijuana - if sale of medical marijuana is approved by passage of Measure MM. It would tax recreational marijuana - if sale of recreational marijuana is approved statewide by Proposition 64. If neither pro marijuana bill passes, Measure MA becomes a moot point.
But if marijuana, medicinal or recreational, is to be sold in Long Beach, Measure MA becomes vital at least according to city officials. MA would tax medicinal marijuana at 6-8%, starting at 6%. It also would tax wholesale distribution and manufacturing at the same 6-8%, with cultivation taxed at $12-$15 a square foot, starting at $12. Most importantly, sale of recreational marijuana would be taxed at 8-12%, starting at 8%.
City estimates are that MA would bring in about $12 million the first year while MM would top out at about $5 million. Again, by city estimate, it will cost around $13 million to provide adequate regulation and enforcement.
If both Measure MM and Prop. 64 pass and Measure MA fails, Long Beach will be in the strange position of taxing sales of "medicine" while not taxing purchases for recreation. If Measure MM passes with more votes than Measure MA, the far lower tax formula would be law.
We're convinced that the city needs the revenue Measure MA would generate. Vote yes on Measure MA.
It seems unfair to devote only a few words to an issue that has been debated literally for generations - legalization of marijuana as a recreational drug. But on the other hand, it would seem that pretty much everything has been said, not once, but many times.
Our primary concerns are enforcement of things like underage use and driving while under the influence. At least with a law in place, underage use can be handled openly. It will take trial and error to determine the best way to judge and handle driving under the influence.
It's time for law to reflect reality. It may be reluctantly, but it is a yes vote on Prop. 64 as well.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Editorial - Marijuana Initiatives All Deserve Yes Votes
Author: Staff
Contact: 562-433-2000
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Gazettes
