We’ve finally reached agreement on a marijuana bill. I hope that most voters will feel that the language improves on what the majority approved last November while fundamentally respecting the majority’s intentions.
First, to highlight some things that the compromise bill does not do:
As to local voter approval, the compromise does provide that if a community voted against the ballot question last November and local officials want to implement the expressed will of their community by imposing a ban on marijuana establishments, they can do so between now and 2019 without going to the voters a second time. This affects 91 communities comprising 28% of state’s population.
Second, to highlight the major things the compromise bill does do:
As to regulatory structure and scope,
As to local control,
As to criminal liability,
Other measures,
Finally, the compromise does increase the excise tax on marijuana from 3.75% to 10.75%. It also bumps up the excise that municipalities may add from 2% to 3%. So together with the state sales tax of 6.25%, the maximum tax goes from 12% to 20%.
That total tax still appears to be among the lowest in the nation and should not, in itself, be a barrier to expansion of the legal market. I came to peace with the tax increase when it dawned on me that it would give both state and local regulators stronger incentives to actively support expansion.
The compromise reached by negotiators from the House and Senate is subject to final approval in each branch later this week.
I’m hopeful that with these changes, we will be on our way to a well-regulated market in marijuana products that will replace our dangerous and destructive illegal market.
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