Californians say 'no' to legal pot but 'yes' to pot taxes

California voters did not buy the argument that marijuana should be legalized and controlled like alcohol, but many agreed that it should be taxed like it. Voters in 10 cities around the state on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed local measures to tax sales of medical and recreational pot.

Supporters of Proposition 19, the measure to legalize marijuana, had hoped the lure of new tax revenue in the midst of a severe economic crisis would appeal to voters. It did, but not enough to persuade them to back the controversial initiative.

But proponents interpreted the thumbs-up on recreational pot taxes as an indicator of growing voter support for legalization. "We largely won the debate because they are ready to tax, control and regulate," said Dale Sky Jones, a spokesman for the campaign to pass the initiative.

Voters in several cities also demonstrated that most Californians are comfortable with marijuana used for medical reasons and sold at storefront dispensaries. In Santa Barbara and Morro Bay, voters rejected bans on pot stores, while in Berkeley voters by a large margin approved a plan to allow six commercial marijuana factories in the city’s industrial zone.

With Proposition 19 failing, 54% to 46%, the 10 cities will not be able to approve recreational marijuana and tax it, but most will join Oakland in imposing taxes on medical marijuana sold in dispensaries. Long Beach had proposed the highest tax on legal marijuana at 15%, but several other cities had proposed 10% levies.

Last year, Oakland became the first city in the state to adopt a tax on medical marijuana. Voters passed it 80% to 20%, and other cities took notice. On Tuesday, Oakland voted to raise its tax on the sales of medical marijuana to 5%. With Oakland’s four dispensaries on track to sell pot worth $40 million this year, city officials estimate that the new tax will bring in $2 million.

In addition to Oakland and Long Beach, the California cities that approved pot tax measures were: Albany, Berkeley, La Puente, Rancho Cordova, Richmond, Sacramento, Stockton and San Jose.

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Medical marijuana patients say they were skeptical about Prop. 19 campaign

-- John Hoeffel

 

Comments

[Michael]

Perhaps now that people are willing to tax it, we will see hard financial figures on the current revenue brought by taxing growers and dispensaries. Next time the voters bring a progressive marijuana initiative to the p0lls, the legislation may be able to have a better tax breakdown.

[Paul Germana]

What a bunch of hypocrites! Way to go California; now when your kids smoke it they'll be guilty of a felony, rather than just a misdemeanor. This shows how much you "really" care. You sure don't mind taxing it though, huh?

[Bob Abrahams]

Some voters that believe that marijuana should be controlled like alcohol voted No on Proposition 19 because that initiative statute did not set up control the way alcohol is. In California, primary control of alcohol is statewide by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This initiative would have set up a patchwork of control systems, sometimes with different licensing systems right across the street from each other.
If marijuana is to be treated like alcohol, let's use the system we already have as a template for control of marijuana.

[Bill S.]

Why would you tax the sale of marijuana if it is only available to patients having certified medical reasons. That's like saying to cancer patients, "I'm sorry to hear you're sick, but you know what, we don't have cancer, so we're going to make you pay an additional tax for something that will make you feel better." How condescending and uncompassionate.

[heather]

Every prescription in your medicine cabinet, legal from your physician is more dangerous than pot. Not to mention cigarettes and booze. It's all about the government making money.

[MICHAEL WHITE]

Well, first off, Thank you California for voting "NO" on drugs. Second, to all the pro-marijuana people, I now extend a hand to you, this one time and ask you to join me in giving up on drugs including marijuana use and working to make California a family-friendly drug-free environment. We can win the war on drugs, we just have to prosecute it correctly. I urge, now that this proposition has failed, to turn a new leaf, one of clean and soberness. There is no better high than enjoying life without the use of a substance. Stay clean and let's get to work for the real values and ideals California and America deserve!! Thanks again!! :)

[BILL MCBLAZE]

I AGREE WITH BILL S. THAT AIN'T RIGHT

[Terry]

The excessive taxes (more than 10%) is leading down a road of "taxation without representation". Who is gonna stand up for the rights of marijuana users?

Why does someone have to be "sick" in order to enjoy a natural substance that causes you to relax at best and get the munchies at worst? I know plenty of people who stop using if they feel it impairs on the productivity of their day. And they do it on their own, no rehab involved. If someone has a habit that is causing them to not deal with their life they could use pretty much anything as an addiction (if not pot, then food, if not food, then sex...). Those people need help regardless. It's time we start getting real about the issues.

[Paul Germana]

Heather, you're right! There's too much money being made for this to be an issue where the voters would have any say. I would be surprised if the votes on this poll were even counted. However once again the people have been tricked into thinking that this "harmful" substance has no place in society.

Marijuana is NOT harmful; it's beautiful. It is the cure to most mental and neurological ailments we see plaguing our world today. The drug epidemic is a ruse; our government is controlling the distribution of human catnip the world over. It works and they control it in order to gain countless trillions.

[BobInIrvine]

@Michael White,

You must be high to write that "California voted NO on drugs." Voters rejected the growing, distribution, and possession on cannabis for recreational purposes.

Since you didn't apparently read the article, voters DID approve taxes on cannabis; clearly that's far from an indictment for medical cannabis, and in fact some cities actually rejected bans of dispensaries.

Michael, if you don't wish to partake in drugs (and I assume that means you don't partake in caffeinated drinks, alcohol, or tobacco), more power to you! If you want to keep your kids from using any of these things, be a good parent.

But don't take your condescending parental attitude to the 46% of California voters who did vote for legalizing recreational use.

[Joey]

As a medical user I have no problem paying taxes on my green. As the first commenter Michael says, I do want people to see how much revenue can be gained from legalizing and taxing marijuana. And as someone who does have a disabling chronic illness, I don't find it uncompassionate -- rather, it's a way to bring legitimacy to the system.

I was disappointed in the lack of ads for Prop 19. There were so many angles they could have hit: the financial benefits, reducing prison overcrowding, etc. etc.

Oh, and to Michael White, if you want "drug free and family friendly," I suggest you move to Utah and start selling your sanctimony there instead. Suggesting additional prosecution for very minor offenses is not at all what's good for California.

[J Swift]

@Michael White... How would you know?

[Patrick O'Neill]

Congratulations, LA Times.

Yesterday, California voters had the opportunity to increase tax revenue and consumer safety as well as generate many new jobs by creating a legitimate, above-ground industry. They also had the opportunity to save millions of dollars in judicial, policing, prosecution and incarceration fees, not to mention put a bunch of dangerous criminals out of business by ending the prohibition of a non-lethal, non-toxic herb.

Instead, with the help of this newspaper, the alcohol, gaming and pharmaceutical industries prevailed.

Well done. Hearst would be proud.

If Prop 19 can get 47% of the vote, with virtually no campaign in support of it, in an off-year midterm that is being driven by rabidly angry white Conservatives, with this newspaper running offensively untrue misinformation campaigns against it, that just means to me that it's gonna sail right through in 2012.

Like most Angelenos, I will never read this newspaper again. Good bye.

[The Dude]

Okay, now I'm ready to watch Dumbo take flight. Taxing illegal items–great, that's the last this country needs – more tax and less industry. Let's start double-taxation on Sudafed then too while we're at it – call a spade a spade.

America's paranoid ranting little blog over taxation without representation in the land where money is king and banks come first just voted out the bill. Deal with it.

Kids can get anything they want if they try, it's up to the parents to set them straight – with liberty comes responsibility.

No marijuana – no money. Period. Honesty before greed, people. That's what got us in this fiscal mess in the first place.

[Numbfumblin]

Media coverage uniformly emphasizes the fact that Prop. 19 didn't pass (which is of course a fact). But the statement that "Californians rejected" the initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana is subtly biased by the all-or-nothing nature of the political process. What's perhaps most striking is that nearly half of California voters(46%)DO favor legalization. On this issue, clearly, the populace is deeply divided.

[SacDuck]

Our freedoms are limited by simple narrow mindedness. I'm all for prohibition of marijuana as long as alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceuticals are included.

And taxing is made silly if we don’t tax all the medical clients. Maybe a good start would be those that use the handicap placards. They seem to get all the good parking with out paying a cents. Maybe tax them double the parking fee for the added convenience they get.

[Jackie Robinson]

Are you people stupid?

Passing Prop 19 would have given us a way to a new beginning.

California needs something new to grow on. We are the trend setters and have the ability to lead but all we do is follow these days.

[gjdagis]

Those left wingers will tax ANYTHING they can get their slimy hands on! How can you have the indecency to tax MEDICAL products of ANY kind? Next they will tax the air we breath. Don't laugh, they once laughed at the absurdity of gay marriage.

[Replicant]

Oakland's 4 dispensaries on track to sell 40 MILLION dollars worth this year. And receive 2 million in tax revenue.

How is it LA's leaders are so short sighted.

Letting their personal moral beliefs dictate what policies they want to create instead of what the people want and what's best for the city... Thats How!

[hippysaurus]

I had this big story in my head all ready to write it down, then I took this big hit off the bong and now I can't remember what it was. Oh well it probably wasn't important.

[Jack]

tax the patients who are already paying drug dealer's retail without insurance to help.

[vic]

well thats a good idea, now everyone will have to pay more for medical marijuana. I wonder if the guy on the corner will sell it for less?hmmmmmm? you cant tax medical marijuana cause thats where all the drug dealers will win, they'll just sell it for regular price. Takin step backwards seems to be the only dance we know as californians.