Sonoma County, California, Marijuana Tax, Measure A (March 2017)
| Measure A: Sonoma County Marijuana Tax |
|---|
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| March 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local marijuana tax |
| Related articles |
| Local marijuana tax on the ballot March 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Sonoma County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Sonoma County, California |
A marijuana tax measure was on the ballot for Sonoma County voters in Sonoma County, California, on March 7, 2017. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the county to impose a tax on commercial marijuana operations in unincorporated areas of the county at a rate of 10 percent of gross receipts or between $10 and $38 per square foot for cultivation businesses and 10 percent of gross receipts for other commercial marijuana operations. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the county to impose a tax on commercial marijuana operations in unincorporated areas of the county at a rate of 10 percent of gross receipts or between $10 and $38 per square foot for cultivation businesses and 10 percent of gross receipts for other commercial marijuana operations. |
Election results
| Measure A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 64,177 | 71% | ||
| No | 26,219 | 29% | ||
- Election results from Sonoma County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall an ordinance be adopted imposing a cannabis business tax in unincorporated Sonoma County on cultivation up to $38 per square foot (annually adjusted by CPI increases) or 10% on gross receipts, and on other cannabis businesses up to 10% on gross receipts, to fund essential county services such as addressing industry impacts, public safety, fire, health, housing, roads, and environmental protection, with funds staying local and subject to audits, generating undetermined revenue until repealed?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Sonoma County Counsel:
| “ |
The County of Sonoma has called a special election to seek voter approval to impose a business tax on commercial cannabis businesses operating within the County. State law requires voter approval before the County can impose a tax. Measure A was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors. In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64 legalizing the recreational use of cannabis by adults and establishing maximum cultivation allowances for personal use. Proposition 64 authorizes the sale of non-medical cannabis and further allows for local control of adult use cannabis land uses. The County is contemplating local land use regulations to control such uses. If approved by voters, Measure A would impose a business tax on both medical and non-medical cannabis businesses in the unincorporated area of the County. Measure A would impose a tax on every person engaged in commercial cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated County either: (i) at a maximum rate of $10.00 per square foot of outdoor cultivation areas, $38.00 per square foot of indoor cultivation area, and $22.00 per square foot of mixed-light cultivation area, or (ii) at a maximum rate of 10% of gross receipts per fiscal year. Measure A would also impose a tax on every person engaged in other commercial cannabis business, including distributors, distribution facilities, testing laboratories, transporters, manufacturers, nurseries, dispensaries, or engaging in deliveries at a maximum rate of 10% per fiscal year. The initial rates for the proposed tax are set forth in the measure. Measure A generally defines “gross receipts” as the total revenue or compensation received by a cannabis business without any deduction for operating costs. “Commercial cannabis business” is defined to include cultivating, transporting, distributing, manufacturing, compounding, converting, processing, preparing, storing, packaging, delivering, and selling cannabis and any ancillary products and accessories. “Dispensary” as a facility where cannabis, cannabis products, or devices for the use of cannabis are offered, for retail sale, including a dispen- sary that functions through any technology platform. The amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed tax is undetermined. The Board of Supervisors may, by ordinance, decrease or increase the tax rate up to the maximum authorized rates at any time thereafter. Measure A also imposes registration and reporting requirements on each person operating a cannabis business and provides for exemptions for personal use and cultivation for personal use. Measure A is a general tax under state law. If adopted, the revenues received from the tax will be placed in the County’s general fund and may be used in any manner authorized by law and as directed by the Board. The monies collected could be used to pay for general County operations and programs such as addressing industry impacts, code enforcement, public safety, fire, health, housing, roads, and environmental protection. If a majority of voters who vote on Measure A vote “yes,” the proposed tax will be imposed on cannabis businesses at the rates set forth in the measure. A no vote on Measure A would result in no tax being imposed on cannabis businesses.[2] |
” |
| —Sonoma County Counsel[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Sonoma County, California.
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sonoma County Elections Office, "Voter's Pamphlet for Measure A," accessed January 11, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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