cannabisnews.com: Advocates Get Down To Grass Tax Advocates Get Down To Grass Tax Posted by CN Staff on February 19, 2004 at 08:28:59 PT By Heather MacDonald, Staff Writer Source: Oakland Tribune Oakland -- Advocates for the legalization of marijuana plan to ask voters to adopt an initiative in November that aims to tax and regulate the sale of pot in Oakland. While the measure, to be submitted to City Attorney John Russo today, would not decriminalize pot, it would direct the Oakland Police Department to treat the private use of marijuana by adults as its lowest priority until cannabis is legalized by California officials. "It is possible to keep cannabis out of the hands of street dealers and away from children, if we tax and regulate it," said Dale Gieringer, a member of the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance. To put the measure on the November ballot, the alliance must collect a minimum of 20,000 signatures from registered voters in Oakland. Controlling the sale of cannabis and limiting it to licensed vendors would eliminate street-level pot deals, while the taxes generated would fund vital city services in a time of severe budget crunches, according to Clare Lewis, a spokeswoman for the alliance. A poll of 600 people commissioned by the group and conducted by McGuire Research Services found more than 70 percent favored the initiative. On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council completed sweeping new regulations that will close down all but four medical cannabis dispensaries and ban pot consumption at the clubs. Although dozens of medical cannabis advocates strenuously objected to the ordinance at the council meeting, leaders of the medical marijuana movement declared victory Wednesday and praised the regulations. "It's very exciting," Lewis said. "Licensed medical cannabis dispensaries seem like a small thing, but it's a huge step forward. Right now, they have nothing." The council members amended the ordinance to limit dispensaries to 8 ounces of marijuana, or 18 plants, per patient. Individuals are allowed to keep a maximum of 72 plants for personal use. Before the meeting, several dozen medical cannabis patients and care givers gathered outside City Hall despite the pouring rain to rally against the ordinance. Some ridiculed a scarecrow dressed to resemble Council President Ignacio De La Fuente (San Antonio-Fruitvale), who authored the regulations with Councilmember Jean Quan (Montclair-Laurel). "This ordinance would make life as difficult as possible for growers, distributors and users," Attorney Robert Raich told the council. Raich recently won a legal victory when a court ruled federal law does not prevent his wife from personal use and cultivation of medical marijuana. De La Fuente and Quan said some clubs are now being run too loosely and are allowing marijuana to be resold on the street. Despite voting for the ordinance, Councilmember Nancy Nadel (Downtown-West Oakland) criticized the regulations, saying they did not provide equitable and safe access to medical marijuana -- one of the city's goals -- because of the ban on consumption at the clubs. "I'm holding my nose to vote for this," Nadel said. Councilmember Desley Brooks (Eastmont-Seminary) cast the only vote against the regulations, after abstaining from the first vote on the regulations two weeks ago. She said she meant to vote no. The ordinance is slated to go into effect June 1. Six months later, the council will review the number of clubs and consider the issue of smoking and consumption at the clubs. The dozen or so cannabis clubs, several of which sprouted in an area north of City Hall known as "Oaksterdam," will have until March 31 to pay $400 and apply for one of the four permits. City Manager Deborah Edgerly will have until May 17 to select the four clubs, which will pay fees ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the number of patients.Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Heather MacDonald, Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, February 19, 2004 Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Site:California NORMLhttp://www.canorml.org/Activists Plant Pot Seeds at City Hall http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18346.shtmlMedical Pot Backers Picket Federal Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18333.shtmlNew Limits in Oakland for Medical Pot Clubs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18301.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by mayan on February 19, 2004 at 18:24:27 PT Legalize,Regulate,Tax... "Controlling the sale of cannabis and limiting it to licensed vendors would eliminate street-level pot deals, while the taxes generated would fund vital city services in a time of severe budget crunches, according to Clare Lewis, a spokeswoman for the alliance."Legalize,regulate & tax it already! The U.S. now has a 7 trillion dollar national debt...not counting state & local debts! Read it & weep...US national debt tops $US7 trillion for first time: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2819868a6026,00.htmlThe way out...Bush Plays Bait-and-Switch With 9/11 Panel: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=62&mode=thread&order=0&thold=09/11 Families’ Action Alert: Tell Congress to Extend 9/11 Commission’s Deadline: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=63&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Virgil on February 19, 2004 at 17:37:33 PT NarcoNews is again There are 5 reports dated February 18th at http://www.narconews.com/If elections were held today in Canada 21% would vote for the the NDP lead by Jack Layton. Breaking the 20% barrier is really huge- http://www.praxicus.com/Sponsorshipscandal.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 19, 2004 at 14:33:14 PT Throw in the towel antis These elections are popping up in Alaska, Nevada and California. Eventually, at least one will put the inevitable big crack in the prohibition of this plant. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment