Support SB-529 to Protect Safe Access at California Collectives!

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On Monday, July 2, the California Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation will debate a bill that could provide sales tax relief to some of the state’s oldest medical cannabis collectives. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has been working on the issue of sales tax and medical cannabis for over two years. While we have opposed taxing medication from the beginning, this bill is a compromise that would provide some relief to patients and collectives statewide. We need you to take action immediately to get this important bill adopted.

CA Senator Carol Migden (Dem – San Francisco) has introduced a bill that will relieve collectives from years of back sales tax liability. Prior to February of 2007, when the Board of Equalization (BOE) notified dispensing collectives that medical cannabis was subject to sales tax, collectives routinely operated under the assumption that medical cannabis was exempt from sales tax – just like prescription medicine. The BOE decision leaves many of the state’s oldest collectives in financial peril. Tens of thousands of legal patients might lose their safe access to medicine if collectives are forced to close by large back tax bills, including interest and stiff penalties.

On Monday, the Assembly committee will consider Migden’s Senate Bill 529, a bill that would allow collectives to begin paying sales tax by March, 2008 and would relieve them of back tax liability. This bill will encourage widespread compliance with the sales tax law and help keep the doors open at previously endangered collectives. Committee members need to hear that there is grassroots support for this measure.

ASA supports SB-529 and is calling on members and advocates to do the same. The committee meets Monday, so take a moment right now to do this:

Visit www.assembly.ca.gov and click on “Find My District” in the left toolbar to determine who is your representative in the State Assembly.

Look at the committee roster below to see if your representative is a member.

If your representative is on the committee, call your representative to ask him or her to support SB 529 to protect safe access in your community.

If your representative is not on the committee, call Chairman Charles M. Calderon to tell him that you support SB 529 to protect safe access in California.

Forward this message to someone else that cares about medical cannabis and urge them to act right away. We only have hours left to make a difference!

Here is a sample script for your telephone call:

“Hello. This is ______. I live in ______. I am calling to urge you to support SB-529, Senator Migden’s bill to provide back sales tax relief to medical cannabis collectives. This bill will encourage compliance with the sales tax laws, while ensuring that California’s collectives stay open to serve legal patients. Thank you.”

Remember to keep your message short and polite! Can you also take a moment to email Sonnet@SafeAccessNow.org to let us know you called your representative? This helps us lobby more effectively on your behalf!

Thank you for your support of safe access!

For more information on California medical cannabis sales tax, please visit:
ASA*:*Sales Tax

To read the full text of SB 529, visit:
SB 529 Senate Bill - AMENDED

Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. Visit ASA*:*Join ASA to make your contribution today!


California Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation

Charles M. Calderon – Committee Chairman (Dem-58)
(916) 319-2058 Assemblymember.Calderon@assembly.ca.gov

Chuck DeVore - Vice Chair (Rep-70)
(916) 319-2070 Assemblymember.devore@assembly.ca.gov

Juan Arambula (Dem-31)
(916) 319-2031 Assemblymember.Arambula@assembly.ca.gov

Mike Eng (Dem-49)
(916) 319-2049 Assemblymember.Eng@asm.ca.gov

Mike Feuer (Dem-42)
(916) 319-2042 Assemblymember.Feuer@assembly.ca.gov

Mary Hayashi (Dem-18)
(916) 319-2018 Assemblymember.Hayashi@assembly.ca.gov

Fiona Ma (Dem-12)
(916) 319-2012 Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov

George A. Plescia (Rep-75)
(916) 319-2075 Assemblymember.Plescia@assembly.ca.gov

Todd Spitzer (Rep-71)
(916) 319-2071 Assemblymember.Spitzer@assembly.ca.gov



News Hawk- User http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: Americans For Safe Access
Contact: ASA*:*Advancing Legal Medical Marijuana Therapeutics and Research
Copyright: AmericansForSafeAccess.org