Fix Pacifica: Successful new revenue streams

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Successful new revenue streams

In it's first month the city of San Jose has collected well over two hundred thousand dollars in revenues from it's new regulating ordinance on pot clubs even after restricting their numbers. If ever there was an argument in favor of taxing the sale of medical marijuana...

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18067598?source=rss

Submitted by Todd Bray

16 comments:

Kathy Meeh said...: Hum, we have a few sick people in Pacifica who might benefit from medical marijuana. Why not have a medical marijuana pot club in Pacifica? Commerce is a good thing. And, hey, Eureka Shopping Center seems to have a few open spaces. Maybe there's even an opening next to the gun shop.

Just listening to channel 5 news (TV), San Jose may make $1 to $4 million per year with these new pot club collectives. Tax revenue was $290,000 first month. The City said "we need the money".; May 16, 2011 at 6:11 PM
Anonymous said...: A pot club next to the gun store . . . only in Pacifica?; May 17, 2011 at 12:24 AM
ian butler said...: Even though prop 19, (which would have made marijuana legal in california) failed to pass last november, 59% of Pacificans voted for it. The percentage of us who are in favor of medical marijuana is even higher. In a Pacifica tribune online poll this year, 83% were in favor of either medial marijuana or outright legalization. This may be the potential revenue stream that has the most widespread support.; May 17, 2011 at 7:46 AM
todd bray said...: Kathy, that is a great idea and I would love to be a part of it but there is one BIG catch. If Pacifica opens a medical marijuana pharmacy there needs to be an ordinance that restricts or out right forbids smoking on the premises or anywhere near the premises. The biggest issue in SF and SJ concerning pot clubs is on sight smoking in residential/mixed use areas. No matter what the revenue stream is having customers roaming around an area before and after is an ordeal.

I support legalizing pot whole heartedly but do not support the on site smoking of pot, for reasons that hopefully are obvious.

If the users are gong ho for taxing pot lets do it. But as Ian points out there will be political issues to overcome in creating a new local tax... or not.; May 17, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Kathy Meeh said...: "I support legalizing pot whole heartedly but do not support the on site smoking of pot, for reasons that hopefully are obvious."

Todd, we agree again. And, thanks Ian for your polling statistics, including that of Tribune readership. Todd, would it be okay if I add a picture to your post?; May 17, 2011 at 11:37 AM
todd bray said...: Nothing demeaning please. A photo of SJ city council would be nice.; May 17, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Kathy Meeh said...: How's that Todd? Funniest picture I could find. Okay its not exactly the SJ city council, but it does promote your idea of "take out".; May 17, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Markus said...: Sounds like something most of us can agree with!
Thanks for the post, Todd.; May 17, 2011 at 2:42 PM
todd bray said...: Sweet. You know those human billboards? The folks who wave signs for sandwich shops and such? We saw one the other day waving a green medicinal cross sign! It was to attract business to a particular dispensary that is in the warehouse district near Kelley Park.; May 17, 2011 at 3:26 PM
Tom Clifford said...: I can't wait till big tobacco gets its hooks in this. Can't you just see the adds now.; May 17, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Anonymous said...: Anyone who can afford to smoke marijuana should not be complaining about being hard up for money.; May 17, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Anonymous said...: yeah, anyone who can afford cancer meds should not be complaining about being hard up for money.; May 17, 2011 at 3:59 PM
Kathy Meeh said...: And here is the downside...South San Francisco has ban medical marijuana collectives as the result of ineffective regulation, abuse and community opposition. "There are drugs that take care of pain. I'm not saying that medical marijuana is not needed by some, but certainly it isn't needed by an 18-year-old that says, 'I have a headache (or) I have a backache that I can't get rid of.' " SM County Times 4/12/11.; May 18, 2011 at 1:57 PM
ian butler said...: Interesting case study, South San Francisco looked into encouraging pot clubs as a way to boost revenue and access, but there was community opposition and the final council vote was 3 to 2 against. It turns out that a majority of SSF's voters voted against prop 19, which would have legalized non-medical marijuana use in California. In contrast, 59% of Pacificans voted in favor of prop 19, which makes us a better fit for cannabis clubs. To date there are still no cannabis clubs in San Mateo county, which makes this a vast untapped resource.

Prop 19 totals can be seen here (go to page 273):

https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/results/nov2010/final/SOV_Nov021010.pdf; May 18, 2011 at 3:36 PM
todd bray said...: Considering the deficit of outlets I would love to join forces with some folks to find out what it takes to open a club. Guess I'll start by searching "So you want to open a pot club."

Seriously, if there are a few out-there folks who want to try this get in contact with me. If nothing else it will be a good education in how to permit something.; May 18, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Markus said...: Justsay no wrote "There are drugs that take care of pain. I'm not saying that medical marijuana is not needed by some, but certainly it isn't needed by an 18-year-old that says, 'I have a headache (or) I have a backache that I can't get rid of.'".

Ya right! That 18 year old can go to a number of doctors who will be more than happy to write him a script for vicodin or a number of other highly addictive drugs which may help with the pain but will certainly get him addicted, not to mention all the adverse side affects.
I'd rather see people using pot instead of prescription drugs any day. There are many doctors out there who are nothing more than legal drug dealers for the pharmaceutical companies.
As Ian mentioned, it appears most Pacificans are not against legalizing pot. So I don't think there would be much opposition for a well placed pot club. It would certainly help the city with easy tax revenues and take some pressure off the property owners. Win win for all!; May 18, 2011 at 6:27 PM