Endorsement: Yes on Measure U

Measure U would do three good and important things. First, while it would not explicitly legalize San Jose’s medical marijuana dispensaries, it would no doubt offer them a powerful degree of legitimacy, and make it easier for them to provide services to their patients, it would protect. Second, it would begin the process of creating a regulatory framework under which medi-pot clubs and collectives operate. Third, it would create a potentially significant new revenue stream for the city.

Spearheaded by District 6 Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio, Measure U would authorize the City Council to implement a business tax specifically on local medical cannabis dispensaries. The measure stipulates that the council can impose a levy of up to 10 percent “for the privilege of conducting business within the City.” That would make San Jose’s medi-pot tax the steepest of such taxes in the state.

San Jose’s co-ops and nonprofit collectives widely oppose Measure U. Leaders like David Hodges of the San Jose Cannabis Buyers Collective worry that the tariff would force medical cannabis providers to raise prices, putting an undue burden on patients. We believe the proposal’s benefits are worth the price.

14 Comments

  1. > The measure stipulates that the council can impose a levy of up to 10 percent “for the privilege of conducting business within the City.” That would make San Jose’s medi-pot tax the steepest of such taxes in the state.

    Totally ridiculous!!!

    The tobacco in a pack cigarettes costs probably ten or fifteen cents.  With taxes, a pack sells for well over five dollars.

    The tax on cigarattes is THREE THOUSAND PERCENT!!

    A 10 percent tax on pot is a JOKE!  It’s no tax at all.  It’s just a sweetheart deal for George Soros and Big Marijuana.

    The tax on pot should be AT LEAST as much as the tax on tobacco: 3,000 percent!

    EVERY argument justifying a 3000% tax on tobacco ALSO applies to pot.

    Pot is a social nuisance as much or more than tobacco and should be taxed accordingly.

    • Tax it at 3000 percent, by all means.  I’ve been buying it on the black market since 1982, and I can continue to do so.

      Frankly, I’m surprised a larger black market for tobacco cigarettes hasn’t started up.

      • > Tax it at 3000 percent, by all means.  I’ve been buying it on the black market since 1982, and I can continue to do so.

        Marijuana is ALREADY the biggest cash crop in California.  The black market for pot is ALREADY well-developed and resilient.

        Taxing pot at 10%, 3,000%, or a zillion ka-jillion percent really isn’t going to affect the established pot-guzzling community.

        The whole premise of Measure U is monumentally stupid.

        It will have no deterrent effect on existing pot-users, and it will only raise a trivial amount of tax revenue.  In fact the cost of administering Measure U will probably be MORE than the tax revenue collected.

        It’s monumentally stupid.

        But, I’m repeating myself.

    • Taxing MEDICINE is unconscionable—Period.

      WTF part of that is confusing you?

      Had 19 passed and Cannabis became available at 7-11 without the 200% black market price support, THEN I would have NO complaint paying sales tax plus.

      Today, the only Cannabis consumers who pay ANY tax are the physician-certificated patients, and that is just BASS-ACKWARDS.

      Any questions?

      -Richard P Steeb, San Jose California

  2. Puff, the magic dragon, lived in the valley
    And frolicked amidst the greenest grass, at the weed dispensary

    Little Jack the Stoner, loved that rascal Puff
    And bought from him his medicine, it was the strongest stuff

    Oh, Puff the magic dragon, lived in the valley
    And frolicked amidst the greenest grass, in the weed dispensary

    Together they would toke up, and smoke would billow high
    Jack would keep a lookout but, he couldn’t remember why

    Nagging doubts and worries, would fade from memory
    They’re patients, never losers, at the weed dispensary

    Puff, the magic dragon, lived in the valley
    And frolicked amidst the greenest grass, at the weed dispensary

    A dragon lives forever, but no so stoner dudes
    Unemployment runs its course, and jail terms interlude

    One grey day it happened, Jack the Stoner came no more
    And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his smoky roar

    Bureaucrats came a-calling, taxes poured like rain
    Puff no longer spent his day, with Jack soothing his pain

    Without his stoner buddy, Puff resigned to fate
    He stiffed up and cut his hair, and good ol’ Puff went straight

    Oh, Puff the magic dragon, lived in the valley
    And frolicked amidst the greenest grass…
    in the weed dispen-sa-ry

      • > I am offended by a law that says you can smoke marijuana, but only if you’re willing to lie first.  So basically the state is saying that people who are deficient in personal honor can legally smoke marijuana, while the rest of us may not.

        If an illegal alien lies to the border patrol to get into the country and then lies to a medical pot club to get pot, is it two crimes, or do the crimes somehow offset each other?

    • I would never get one of those “medical marijuana” cards (unless I had a genuine ailment that was ameliorated by the use of marijuana, which is probably true of about five percent of the people who hold such cards).  I would never debase myself by lying to some physician (even one who knew I was lying, and was expecting to be paid handsomely for the service of pretending to believe my lie), in order to obtain a de facto license to break the law.  I would rather just openly & honestly break the law like a man, and work to get that stupid law off the books.  I am offended by a law that says you can smoke marijuana, but only if you’re willing to lie first.  So basically the state is saying that people who are deficient in personal honor can legally smoke marijuana, while the rest of us may not.

  3. Just what folks need… more government in their face.  SJ spends revenue like Monopoly money.  Give ‘em a buck and they’ll pour it down the bottomless pit called Downtown.

  4. If it is medical and for prescribed medical treatment why is it not just sold in drugstores like every other medicine?

    Having it thus would obviate a lot of the puffery (excuse) that goes along with this entire issue.

  5. While I support medical marijuana, I do not support the Cannabis idea. I agree with HB, prescriptions should go through a drugstore like and other legal medication.

    I know a few people who have told me some stories about these places that concern me. If what they are saying is true, once again the rotten apples are ruining it for decent, honest people. Abuse is already happening and I believe it will increase if this passes.

    I will be voting no on this measure for this reason, as well as, I believe 10% is way too high a tax for a City that hasn’t reigned in its overspending practices as it is….

    Secondly, I’m voting no on 19 too. The Federal Government has made it very clear that even if this passes they will continue to enforce the law regarding the recreational use of pot. I can see the drug cartels now, and the DUI arrests climbing even higher. No thanks folks it’s too just big a risk for me.

    • Either marijuana should be illegal as per California law, or it shouldn’t be.  Nothing the Federal government says should have any bearing on this topic.  If Proposition 19 is passed, perhaps the next Attorney General will pursue a different policy than the one Eric Holder has embraced.  If post-Proposition 19 marijuana sales generate substantial revenue for California cities & counties, perhaps our Senators and Representatives will lobby President Obama to reign in Holder.

  6. Hey Boys and Girls!!

    It’s Party Time!

    Grab your medicinal pot, your bong pipe, your bottle of tequila, vodka, or thunderbird and join in the big election victory celebration!

    Celebration begins MONDAY NIGHT! and anyone not comatose by 9 PM is not partying hard enough!!

    MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY!

    Drink up until you see pink elephants!

    MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY!

    Remember, Obamacare covers hangovers!

    MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY!

    One toque over the line Sweet Jesus!  This will be the party to end all parties!

    PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!

    MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY!

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