SEBASTOPOL REJECTS POT TAX, FOR NOW

The Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday night rejected, on a 3-2 vote,
a proposal to impose a business tax on the use of marijuana if it is
legalized by voters in November.

"Do we want to be have store-front sales? Do we want Sebastopol to be
the place where people come for their recreational marijuana?" asked
Councilman Guy Wilson, who opposed the measure.

"My heart tells me we should wait until after the ballot in
November," said Councilwoman Linda Kelley.

The proposal was to put a tax not to exceed 5 percent on revenues of
all marijuana-related businesses, should Californians approve a
ballot measure legalizing marijuana for anyone over 21.

"We just adopted a budget that has been the most painful budget I've
seen in 12 years on the council and we have the opportunity to
potentially enhance our revenue stream," said Councilman Larry
Robinson, who proposed the tax.

Robinson said he was not advocating for the legalization, but felt
Californians will eventually legalize it. "This is about whether the
city of Sebastopol wants to be in the position to tax it if the
state decided it is legal," Robinson said. "If this council doesn't
want it, the next one will."

The proposal would have put a 5 percent business tax on all medical
and recreational marijuana-related business, including the growers,
distributors and stores. It is patterned after a similar tax that the
city of Oakland imposed in May.

As a business tax that generates revenue for the city's general fund,
it would have only required a simple majority to pass.

The council felt, however, that it should wait to see the outcome of
the November election before spending $10,000 to put it before
Sebastopol voters.

Robinson and Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer voted for the tax, while
Robinson, Kelley and Mayor Sarah Gurney voted against it.