Oakland Voters Approve Marijuana Tax

Trees are just becoming more acceptable. A general shift of perception that has been changing ever so slightly over time. It seems like people are beginning to see the hypocrisy of some laws in America. Are the laws on alcohol and tobacco in line with the laws against marijuana when analyzing the effects of each? The voters of Oakland have made a statement. How will the rest of the country respond?

On Tuesday became the first city in the US to assess a tax on marijuana. State and national advocates of the tax say the victory is a significant turning point in the history of cannabis use, paving the way for taxation in other communities and states and establishing more social acceptance of marijuana use.

Opponents say an irreversible threshold has been crossed, opening the door to more crime and heavier drug use.

By a wide margin of 80 percent to 20 percent, Oakland voters said "yes" to Measure F, which asked: "Shall City of Oakland's business tax, which currently imposes a tax rate of $1.20 per $1,000 on 'cannabis business' gross receipts, be amended to establish a new tax rate of $18 per $1,000 of gross receipts?"

"The voters of Oakland have sent a message to the nation that cannabis is better treated as a legitimate, tax-paying business than as a cause of crime and futile law-enforcement expenditures," says Dale Gieringer, California state coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The city estimates that the measure will raise $294,000 in additional tax revenue in 2010 and more in future years. Some say the measure will provide funds to help offset the city's current $83 million deficit as well as allow police to direct their limited resources to more serious crimes and drug offenses.

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Oakland Voters Approve Marijuana Tax