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Measure H Cannabis Business Tax City of Rancho Cordova Majority Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Pass:
10,865 /
68.22% Yes votes ......
5,061 /
31.78% No votes
| Results as of Jan 3 10:57am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (48/48) |
| Information shown below: Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | |||||
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Shall an ordinance be adopted requiring cannabis (marijuana) businesses to pay a tax to fund general municipal services, including police and code enforcement, ranging from $120 to $150 per $1,000 of gross receipts, or $100 per square foot of space for non-profit organizations? The tax would only be effective if Proposition 19, or if any other law allowing cannabis businesses is adopted, and it would only be imposed if the City allows cannabis businesses.
If approved by a majority of voters at the November 2, 2010 election, Measure H would establish a new excise tax on cannabis businesses that are authorized to operate within the City of Rancho Cordova. Measure H defines cannabis businesses broadly to include all businesses that sell, cultivate, manufacture, process, and test marijuana. Under Measure H, cannabis businesses would be taxed at rate of $120 for each $1,000.00 of gross receipts totaling $1 million or less, and then $150 for each $1,000.00 of gross receipts over $1 million annually. For cannabis businesses that elect to obtain nonprofit status, the tax rate would be $100 per square foot annually. The proposed Cannabis Business Tax is a general tax, and therefore the revenues from the tax would be placed in the City's general fund for the usual expenses of the City and then may be used for general governmental purposes, such as providing code enforcement and police services. Pursuant to Article XIll(C), Section 2(b) of the California Constitution, in order for the Cannabis Business Tax to be approved, the electorate must adopt Measure H by a majority vote. If approved by the voters of the City of Rancho Cordova on November 2, 2010, Measure H, adding a new Chapter 3.80 entitled "Cannabis Business Tax" to Rancho Cordova Municipal Code, would take effect only if Proposition 19, the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010" is adopted by the voters of the State of California or if any other State or Federal law allowing such businesses is subsequently adopted. In addition, the tax would only be imposed if the Rancho Cordova City Council allows for the establishment of cannabis businesses within Rancho Cordova in the future. The Rancho Cordova Municipal Code currently does not permit any type of cannabis business to operate within Rancho Cordova. A "yes" vote is a vote to adopt the Cannabis Business Tax. A "no" vote is a vote against adopting the Cannabis Business Tax. s/Adam Lindgren City Attorney
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| Arguments For Measure H | Arguments Against Measure H | |
| The existing policy of the City of Rancho Cordova is that marijuana
dispensaries are not allowed to open in our community. With
Proposition 19 on the November ballot, we cannot be sure how
long our policy will remain in place.
Your YES vote on Measure H will let the City of Rancho Cordova impose a tax on any future commercial or non-profit businesses engaged in selling marijuana. The funds raised would offset the added costs for regulation, including inspections, code and law enforcement, and other actions that are important to maintain the health and safety of our community. Measure H does not endorse the use or sale of marijuana, but it will ensure the City has the funds for regulation and oversight if our City policy ever changes for any reason. If Proposition 19 passes, or any future state or federal law allowing such businesses is ever adopted, your City Council will be able to impose a tax on cannabis/marijuana businesses if Measure H is passed Protecting the City residents and businesses is the foremost concern of the City Council and, to this end, Measure H is needed so the additional services that these businesses require will be available. Only the businesses engaged in the activities would be taxed, the residents and other businesses would not, so this is a user-based tax, to support the increased oversight these businesses would require. A YES vote on Measure H allows the City of Rancho Cordova to protect the safety, rights and comforts of the residents of the City of Rancho Cordova.
s/Ken Cooley, Mayor
| Don't be fooled. This is a tax on the patients who need medical
marijuana more than it is a tax on the businesses that supply the
medicine. Medical marijuana is a prohibitively expensive medication
for many patients who are legally qualified to use it. On top of
the cost of the medication, patients pay 8.75% in sales tax. The
proposed additional tax of up to 15% -- for a total of nearly 24% - - will place an even greater tax burden on sick patients and make an expensive medication even more unaffordable. In the United States, patients are not taxed for the other prescription medication they need. Why should medical marijuana be treated any differently? Americans for Safe Access, the country's leading medical marijuana patients' rights group, opposes placing any further tax burden on medical marijuana patients. Vote NO on Measure H.
s/Kris Hermes, Media Director
Since becoming a city in 2003, Rancho Cordova has kept a sharp focus on using our available resources to strengthen and improve our city. Our goal is to build and safeguard a better future for Rancho Cordova.Measure H will help ensure our community has the tools to maintain our current momentum of improving the community. Measure H will provide the City with resources to deal with problems related to the legalization of marijuana. This measure is drafted to be very targeted in its impact, but its benefits and effects will be felt across our community. Your "YES" vote on Measure H will make sure that the city can continue to strike a fair balance between any and all rights California gives our citizens and our community's right to protect our neighbors and neighborhoods.
s/Ken Cooley, Mayor
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Created: January 6, 2011 14:59 PST
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