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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Firefighters at National Creek fire complex get help from weather ... Our View: Farewell to two prominent personalities ... UPDATE: Three firefighters killed, others injured in Washington state 'hellstorm' wildfire ... Firefighters at National Creek fire complex get help from weather ... Our View: Farewell to two prominent personalities ... UPDATE: Three firefighters killed, others injured in Washington state 'hellstorm' wildfire ... Gold Hill repeals medical marijuana tax, adds 3-percent tax on recreational pot City Council enacts 3-percent tax on recreational pot By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 @ 10:02 am Updated at 3:23 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 @ 10:02 am Updated at 3:23 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Gold Hill City Council repealed a 5 percent tax Monday on medical marijuana that has cost the city's lone dispensary, Breeze Bontanicals, an average of $2,500 a month since June 2014. The council passed a 3-percent tax on recreational marijuana, which will become effective when sales begin Oct. 1. “There are so many dispensaries in the Rogue Valley now, and we were the only one having to charge a tax,” said Breeze Botanicals owner Brie Malarkey. The tax was enacted to bolster funds for law enforcement in case the dispensary's presence caused an uptick in crime. It brought in from $35,000 to $38,000 total, city officials said. Malarkey said the tax put her business at a disadvantage because she was forced to pass the tax on to customers, making her prices higher than at other dispensaries. “June 9 was the first day we dispensed cannabis. It’s been 14 months," Malarkey said. "We were supposed to review it at a year. We have had no crime, no issues, so we think it was time. I think people recognize that anybody could be the victim of crime, but there would not be a tax if people were going to get their pharmaceuticals.” The council repealed the tax by a 4-2 vote, with councilors Chris Stanley and Karen Baker voting against it. Stanley said the repeal was not on the agenda and it takes away a funding source for law enforcement. “I believe the public should have had input," Stanley said. "There had been no prior notice that this would be discussed. The tax should have stayed. With the removal of this tax, we are $30,000 to $38,000 short in our law enforcement fund. That burden will be put on the property owners of Gold Hill.” Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 @ 10:02 am Updated at 3:23 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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 2015 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. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501