Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Two races set for council positions Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer Police Log Oregon sues Oracle and executives over health insurance exchange website PDF: State of Oregon v. Oracle America Inc. complaint Education SOU ROAR's to life Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Environment Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer National monument area still faces threats What do you think of the return of wolves to Jackson County? How has the drought affected you? Wimer organic farm reaches out for support Business Organic & Healthy Dobra serves up teas and tranquility Revised employment figures show job growth in Jackson County Store to receive national award Former Daily Tidings publisher named to head new Gannett print company Politics and elections Two races set for council positions Library district won't take maximum tax rate Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Taking an independent stand Library district board, county at odds over proposal State News Nation - World Obituaries Frank Raymond Nadeau Death Notices Dan Austin Andress Olive May (Davis) Dooms Harry Miller Christensen Sports Latest Stories No Mo’ne on mound, Philly loses to Chicago Giants fall short in suspended game, 2-1 Ashland sports calendar: Local events and sports on TV Foles, offense sharp as Eagles beat Steelers Manziel not ready for prime time High school Southern Oregon University Season of change Raiders lean on passing, strength up front Beavers will get another shot at Buckeyes SOU men voted CCC favorites Former Ashland High star Niki Small reunites with former coach Rohlfing at SOU Opinion Latest Stories City sets example on marijuana tax Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Our View: Review the ordinance, not the site Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Glad tidings about reader reactions Editorial City sets example on marijuana tax Our View: Review the ordinance, not the site Our View: New twist on the flying wedge Proof is in the numbers Ashlanders step up Letters Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19 Letter at Length: Bravo to Ashland for water conservation Letters to the Editor, Tuesday, Aug. 12 Letters to the Editor Guest opinions Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Hamas supporters spread anti-Semitism around the world A fresh start for the Tidings — and for Mount Ashland Republicans and the politics of cognitive dissonance Revels Latest Stories Community blog:Ashland Book and Author Festival Coming Soon Ashland's On The Fly Improv had the audience rolling Community blog:Poet Laureate Peter Sears in Ashland World of Wine celebrates local varietals 4 things to do this weekend Theater OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Daedalus Project 2014 Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Music 'On the Fly' Live 'on the bricks' Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Tavern Visual Art First Friday art walk in Ashland Movies Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 22-26 'What If' hits the sweet spot Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 15-21 'Boyhood' and 'The Hundred-Foot Journey' 'A Most Wanted Man' is full of complexities Food and Drink World of Wine celebrates local varietals Lifestyle Latest Stories If pot is medicine, should it be taxed? Backstage: For TV, never go beyond take three Food Project is a success story Inner Peace: Spiritual maintenance Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part four of four Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries NEWS NOW Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample ... CALENDAR ... Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample ... CALENDAR ... LOCAL TAKE: MEDICAL MARIJUANA TAXATION If pot is medicine, should it be taxed? By Ian Hand Ashland Daily tidings DailyTidings.com By Ian Hand Ashland Daily tidings Posted Aug. 21, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 21, 2014 at 10:36 AM By Ian Hand Ashland Daily tidings Posted Aug. 21, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 21, 2014 at 10:36 AM » RELATED CONTENT --> Mason D., grower "I think people have to be careful about leaning on the medical aspect. Cannabis is a big part of the future of our society. We should be collecting taxes that... » Read more X Mason D., grower "I think people have to be careful about leaning on the medical aspect. Cannabis is a big part of the future of our society. We should be collecting taxes that further our society. Growers and dispensary operators want to contribute to the community and make the business more inclusive for all aspects to integrate into society. If we're arguing that it's a naturally occurring medicine, an herbal medication, then it should be taxed like other herbal medications." (Mason D., interviewed Wednesday at Puff's Smoke Shop in Ashland, declined to be photographed or to give his full name.) • Should medical marijuana be taxed? » Social News What's happening Ashland is taking steps to ensure it's prepared for medical marijuana to become a presence in the city. On March 19, the state signed into law Senate Bill 1531, which allows local governments to impose their own regulations on medical marijuana dispensaries in addition to state regulations. Ashland set a moratorium on dispensaries in the city until the city council could determine these regulations. The moratorium was lifted on Aug. 5 when the council approved ordinances that determined operating regulations for dispensaries and taxes for medical and recreational marijuana (should voters approve recreational marijuana in November). The ordinances take effect Sept. 4. One dispensary, Siskiyou Medical Supply, reopened last week. What the issue is While the proposed city tax ordinance set tax rates on both medical and recreational marijuana sales (which would be allowed if a ballot initiative is approved by voters in November), city council members decided to set tax rates by council resolution instead, so the council would not have to go through the formal ordinance process to set and change tax rates. The proposed rates were 5 percent for medical sales and 10 percent for recreational sales. "We polled cities in Colorado to determine these rates," City Administrator Dave Kanner said during Tuesday's city council meeting. "There's no real standard yet, but these seem to be the going rates." The five councilors present at Tuesday's meeting unanimously approved setting the recreational tax rate at 10 percent. The medical rate proved more controversial. Councilor Greg Lemhouse opposed the tax on medical marijuana, as did Councilor Pam Marsh. "Recreational marijuana would be a luxury item," Marsh said. "Medical marijuana is not. A tax on medical marijuana would be punitive." Councilors Carol Voisin and Rich Rosenthal supported a tax on medical use, citing the fact that medical marijuana is not a prescription medication, but something a doctor can recommend. Councilor Michael Morris pointed out the uncertainty that made this decision difficult. "There is that percentage of users who use medical marijuana for not-quite medical purposes," he said. "But there are the purely medical users out there." A motion to set tax medical marijuana was opposed by Councilors Lemhouse, Marsh and Morris, which effectively set the tax rate in the resolution at 0 percent. What's next While marijuana tax rates are at 0 percent for medical and 10 percent for recreational, these can be changed in the future if necessary. "We have a construct for these taxes now," Marsh said. While there is uncertainty about whether these rates may get locked in should recreational use be legalized (the measure includes limits on local agencies powers to tax recreational sales), Lemhouse isn't worried. "I would be hard pressed to see legislature telling cities how to tax," he said. By Ian Hand Ashland Daily tidings DailyTidings.com By Ian Hand Ashland Daily tidings Posted Aug. 21, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 21, 2014 at 10:36 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501