Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Stockton - Pending City Council approval, residents will have the opportunity in November to vote on whether to allow for the establishment of as many as three new medical marijuana dispensaries in Stockton.
The City Council is scheduled Tuesday night to consider placing two measures on the November ballot related to the sale, cultivation and taxation of medical cannabis.
The sale and cultivation measure would allow for a total of four dispensaries and four cultivation sites in Stockton. Currently, there is only a single legal medical cannabis dispensary in the city, the Stockton Patient Clinic at Wilson Way and Fremont Street.
The second ballot measure would increase the medical cannabis business license tax from $25 per $1,000 of annual gross receipts to a minimum of $35 and a maximum of $50 per $1,000. The city estimates the higher tax rate would increase revenues, for general services in Stockton, from $672,000 to $1 million a year.
The cost for placing the two measures on the ballot is estimated by the city at about $120,000.
Assuming the council votes to put the measures on the ballot, it will mark a success for a group of Stockton medical marijuana users who collected thousands of signatures earlier this year seeking to put a measure onto the November ballot.
The group submitted 8,586 signatures at City Hall on May 23 but withdrew its petition two days later. Proponent Dorothy Hillbrant, a cancer patient who relies on medical cannabis, wrote in a letter to City Clerk Bonnie Paige that the group withdrew the petition because of "technical errors."
The group continued to press its case after that setback, a continuing effort that will culminate in Tuesday's council vote.
If voters approve the dispensary measure, dispensaries and cultivation sites would be required to be at least 1,000 feet from parks and K-12 schools and at least 600 feet from childcare facilities, religious facilities and substance-abuse treatment centers.
Cultivation would be limited to fully enclosed buildings, the interiors of which would not be visible to the public.
Stockton voters hardly will be alone this fall in making decisions on measures related to cannabis. The Calaveras Enterprise reported Friday that Calaveras County voters will decide in November on a proposal to tax commercial cannabis cultivators. Statewide, voters may get to decide on the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which would legalize recreational use in California.
Voters in Stockton will have numerous decisions to make in November beyond their choices for mayor and three seats on the City Council.
In addition to the possible medical-marijuana measures, they will be asked to decide on a quarter-cent sales tax to benefit libraries, recreation, education and other youth services in Stockton. The tax, estimated to generate annual revenues of $9 million for 16 years, requires approval by two-thirds of voters.
Additionally, voters will decide on two measures amending Stockton's charter.
The first measure, if approved, would change the city's system for electing its City Council members.
Currently, the top two finishers in district voting in a primary election meet again in decisive citywide voting in November. The new system would eliminate the citywide vote. Candidates receiving a majority of the district votes in the primary would be elected. If no candidate receives a majority in the primary district vote, the top two finishers would be meet again in decisive November district voting.
The second charter amendment measure would change the salary-setting process for the mayor and council to avoid midterm salary changes such as the 30 percent pay cut sustained by Mayor Anthony Silva last year.
Additionally, the second measure would provide annual funding for three positions in the mayor's office, including a public-information officer.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Increased Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Might Be On November Ballot
Author: Roger Phillips
Contact: 209-943-NEWS
Photo Credit: Brennen Linsley
Website: Recordnet
The City Council is scheduled Tuesday night to consider placing two measures on the November ballot related to the sale, cultivation and taxation of medical cannabis.
The sale and cultivation measure would allow for a total of four dispensaries and four cultivation sites in Stockton. Currently, there is only a single legal medical cannabis dispensary in the city, the Stockton Patient Clinic at Wilson Way and Fremont Street.
The second ballot measure would increase the medical cannabis business license tax from $25 per $1,000 of annual gross receipts to a minimum of $35 and a maximum of $50 per $1,000. The city estimates the higher tax rate would increase revenues, for general services in Stockton, from $672,000 to $1 million a year.
The cost for placing the two measures on the ballot is estimated by the city at about $120,000.
Assuming the council votes to put the measures on the ballot, it will mark a success for a group of Stockton medical marijuana users who collected thousands of signatures earlier this year seeking to put a measure onto the November ballot.
The group submitted 8,586 signatures at City Hall on May 23 but withdrew its petition two days later. Proponent Dorothy Hillbrant, a cancer patient who relies on medical cannabis, wrote in a letter to City Clerk Bonnie Paige that the group withdrew the petition because of "technical errors."
The group continued to press its case after that setback, a continuing effort that will culminate in Tuesday's council vote.
If voters approve the dispensary measure, dispensaries and cultivation sites would be required to be at least 1,000 feet from parks and K-12 schools and at least 600 feet from childcare facilities, religious facilities and substance-abuse treatment centers.
Cultivation would be limited to fully enclosed buildings, the interiors of which would not be visible to the public.
Stockton voters hardly will be alone this fall in making decisions on measures related to cannabis. The Calaveras Enterprise reported Friday that Calaveras County voters will decide in November on a proposal to tax commercial cannabis cultivators. Statewide, voters may get to decide on the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which would legalize recreational use in California.
Voters in Stockton will have numerous decisions to make in November beyond their choices for mayor and three seats on the City Council.
In addition to the possible medical-marijuana measures, they will be asked to decide on a quarter-cent sales tax to benefit libraries, recreation, education and other youth services in Stockton. The tax, estimated to generate annual revenues of $9 million for 16 years, requires approval by two-thirds of voters.
Additionally, voters will decide on two measures amending Stockton's charter.
The first measure, if approved, would change the city's system for electing its City Council members.
Currently, the top two finishers in district voting in a primary election meet again in decisive citywide voting in November. The new system would eliminate the citywide vote. Candidates receiving a majority of the district votes in the primary would be elected. If no candidate receives a majority in the primary district vote, the top two finishers would be meet again in decisive November district voting.
The second charter amendment measure would change the salary-setting process for the mayor and council to avoid midterm salary changes such as the 30 percent pay cut sustained by Mayor Anthony Silva last year.
Additionally, the second measure would provide annual funding for three positions in the mayor's office, including a public-information officer.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Increased Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Might Be On November Ballot
Author: Roger Phillips
Contact: 209-943-NEWS
Photo Credit: Brennen Linsley
Website: Recordnet
