Calif. Residents Approve Medical Marijuana Taxes, Limit Dispensaries
California voters largely supported local measures to tax medical marijuana and voted for limits on dispensaries and growing, the AP/U-T San Diego reports.
Medical Marijuana Tax
Measures to levy a tax on medical marijuana were approved in:
- Cathedral City, in Riverside County, where voters enacted a 15% sales tax;
- Desert Hot Springs, also in Riverside County, where voters approved a 10% sales tax, in addition to a tax on medical marijuana cultivation;
- Santa Cruz city and county, where voters approved a retail tax; and
- Shasta Lake City, where voters approved a 6% sales tax.
Advocates said the election results show California residents support medical marijuana but want stronger regulation, according to the AP/U-T San Diego.
Limits on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, Cultivation
Meanwhile, California voters rejected measures aimed at expanding medical marijuana dispensaries in:
- Encinitas, in San Diego County;
- La Mesa, also in San Diego County (Flaccus, AP/U-T San Diego, 11/5); and
- Weed, in Siskiyou County (Covarrubias, Los Angeles Times, 11/5).
Scott Chipman -- Southern California co-chair of Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana -- said, "I'm encouraged when cities completely reject the idea of marijuana dispensaries because they're recognizing it's just drug dealing behind glass doors and a green cross."
Meanwhile, voters voted against measures to loosen medical marijuana cultivation rules in:
- Butte County;
- Lake County;
- Nevada County; and
- Shasta County (AP/U-T San Diego, 11/5).