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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services City officials take Ice Bucket Challenge City could foreclose on abandoned houses Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Medford man arrested on suspicion of dealing meth Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Medford man arrested on suspicion of dealing meth Medford man arrested after abandoning stolen vehicle on I-5 Wounded Klamath deputy has ties to Rogue Valley UPDATED: Arrests made in shooting of Klamath County deputy Politics and Elections Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Medford proposes new rules for pawn shops to help nab thieves Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Council members in Gold Hill dodge voter recall Bill Pullman campaigns for Oregon GMO labeling law Education Medford charter school opens with many changes, including its name Superintendent welcomes staff to a new school year Safe haven: Art program provides a place for youth to express themselves Sacred Heart School gets new principal Medford School District considers gifted land for new school Environment Judge won't block release of water Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message OR-7 could be recollared next month Deadly deer virus may be spreading Talent earns Bee City USA designation State news Nation - World Obituaries Ted E. Dawson Irene Margaret Vicki Lynn Kemmerer Richard Westergard Gordon Lee Monroe Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Hill sets record in Aggies’ upset Carr drives Raiders past Seahawks Angels rally in 10th to edge A's Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC FedEx Cup: Where a week can change everything Varsity 541 College Sports Hill sets record in Aggies’ upset Angels rally in 10th to edge A's Added pieces translate to high hopes for SOU 'D' Woods seeks return to form for Beavers Speed to burn Pro Sports Carr drives Raiders past Seahawks FedEx Cup: Where a week can change everything No touching After Rice, NFL increases domestic violence bans Cook whips up recipe for medalist honors Community Sports Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Results / Standings Second season a success for Rogues Business Latest Stories People in Business New Mercedes-Benz dealer is luxury car fan Brammo plans to keep jobs in Rogue Valley Improving economy could bring rebates for Oregon taxpayers Blog: When it comes to matching national demographics, Medford isn't even close Real Estate News Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out People In Business Transportation Agriculture Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Michael Gerson: The importance of history Other views: OLCC operates with little oversight Matthew T. Mangino: Violent crime was rampant not too long ago Granlund cartoon: Russian humanitarian aid to Ukraine Editorials Other views: OLCC operates with little oversight Our View: A vote for common sense in Gold Hill Our View: It's not the gear; it's how the gear is used Other Views: NCAA must maintain academic integrity Our View: Marijuana sales — a taxing problem Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 28 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 26 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 25 Guest Opinions The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch The power of local philanthropy Who I am and why I want to serve on the City Council Lifestyle Latest stories Religion briefs Efficient paddling is not an accident Fishing Report: Friday, Aug. 29 Applegate Lake's Payette Trail: The ride for the casual mountain biker Get Out: Friday, Aug. 29 Food What does 'natural' really mean? Fielding labels in search for a good egg The focus is on hospitality at Jaxon Vineyards Community blog: Silky stew or quick saute is summer's symphony Community blog: Onion pickles can wait for home-canning lull Home and Garden An August checklist for your garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Lawn talk Tips for keeping backyard birds cool this summer Bath time for the birds: You can help them stay cool and clean Health Community blog: What the Brain Isn't - Mind or Love Community blog: The Unfriendly Skies (continued) Healthy Aging: Iron girls galore Community blog:Here�s How To Leave Despair For Resilience Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Shayla Brooke Grether and Jesse Levi Tanner Grange Co-Op garden helps feed the hungry Medford woman graduates with honors Century Club Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Bill Maher at Britt Festivals From business professor to artist Gypsy Soul performs at EdenVale Winery The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South Alan Berman Trio at the Imperial Theater OSF presents 'The Alchemy of Gender' Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious Music Brent Norton: A Rogue Valley Experience Bill Maher at Britt Festivals Gypsy Soul performs at EdenVale Winery The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South Alan Berman Trio at the Imperial Community Events 5 Things to Do This Weekend From business professor to artist Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Nature Walks in Lithia Park Dining Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries India Palace Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW UPDATED: Arrests made in shooting of Klamath County deputy ... UPDATED: Northbound I-5 reopens after FedEx truck burns ... 10 things to know for Thursday ... UPDATED: Arrests made in shooting of Klamath County deputy ... UPDATED: Northbound I-5 reopens after FedEx truck burns ... 10 things to know for Thursday ... OUR VIEW Our View: Marijuana sales — a taxing problem MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 22, 2014 @ 12:01 am Posted Aug. 22, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News City governments are attempting to discourage medical marijuana dispensaries — and potentially retail outlets, too, should a legalization measure pass in November — by imposing taxes on both medical and recreational pot sales. So far, medical dispensaries are opening anyway, and taxing retail outlets ahead of time could result in unintended consequences. In any case, ordinances should be designed to tax medical marijuana at a lesser rate, if at all, out of consideration for seriously ill patients who rely on the drug. The Ashland City Council did the right thing Tuesday night, voting not to tax medical marijuana at all, while enacting a 10 percent on recreational marijuana should the legalization measure pass. One dispensary has reopened in that city, and two have obtained provisional licenses from the state. Central Point enacted a 10-percent tax, but set the rate at 5 percent for holders of medical marijuana cards. The city has no plans to lift a moratorium on dispensaries before it expires next May. In Gold Hill, where the City Council's decision to allow a single dispensary to open ignited a recall attempt against four council members, that city's 5 percent tax yielded $1,800 in revenue for the town in the first three weeks the dispensary operated. So-called "sin taxes" are a time-honored way for governments to raise money while discouraging an activity that some members of the public disapprove of. Liquor taxes are a prime example. This puts the government in the contradictory position of relying on income from an activity it supposedly wants to limit. That approach to the potential legalization of recreational marijuana is understandable. It is less so in the case of medical marijuana. Society is grappling with the regulation of a substance that has medical uses but is also a popular recreational drug. If it is medicine, it makes little sense to tax it, except to take advantage of patients who need a safe, reliable supply. Even states with general sales taxes usually exempt prescription medications. Cities that choose to tax recreational pot are betting that will grandfather them in and let them get around language in the legalization measure that bans local taxes. That will likely be a decision for the courts, but it's hardly a sure thing. What's more, taxing recreational pot too heavily could backfire. Washington state, where voters legalized marijuana, is discovering that strict regulations and high taxes have resulted in retail pot prices outstripping black market street rates. If one of the arguments for legalization is to eliminate the black market, that's not a very good way to go about it. Finally, it's at least a bit ironic that while some city leaders have expressed concern about granting business licenses to stores that sell a product in violation of federal law, they seem to have no problem cashing in on that same product's sales. 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