Marijuana Legalization Fails, but Cities Still Taxing in California

Although California’s controversial measure to legalize and tax medicinal marijuana failed, several cities have joined with Oakland in imposing city-based taxes.

Dale Sky Jones, a spokesman for the campaign to pass the initiative, said “We largely won the debate because they are ready to tax, control and regulate.”

Oakland started imposing taxes on medical marijuana sold in dispensaries last year, and is now joined by nine other cities. Long Beach proposed the highest rate at 15%, with most other cities voting for 10% levies.

Ten cities in total now have laws allowing the local taxation of Marijuana: Oakland, Long Beach, Albany, Berkeley, La Puente, Rancho Cordova, Richmond, Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose.