Vote No on SF's Prop D: Say No to More Cannabis Taxes!

Dear Green Cross Members, Friends & Family,

With November 6 fast approaching, we want to take a few moments to talk about San Francisco's Proposition D, a measure to create a new local marijuana business tax. Prop D is shortsighted and will harm cannabis-related businesses and consumers with higher costs. This measure has the potential to put cannabis retailers out of business, as well as drive consumers back to purchasing cannabis on the illegal black market where there is reduced product testing and quality control. Proposition D goes directly against why California voters decided to support Proposition 64; to put an end to this black market. This measure would do the complete opposite by rebirthing it. 

California spent many months determining the appropriate tax rate for our industry. As a cannabis business, we would not oppose a small sensible tax reform, however, Proposition D is anything but.

If passed by voters, this additional tax serves no useful public purpose. It’s simply a City Hall greedy money-grab. Tax revenues will go, not to fund education and/or rehabilitation programs, but to the General Fund - the City’s ever-expanding and unaccountable bureaucracy. We ask San Francisco voters to say NO to Proposition D on November 6. Let’s keep consumption safe and legal.
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For more information on this unnecessary measure, and to read more about why all these major local news publications, local officials and organizations are against it, please continue reading.

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​Prop D opponents say tax spike for SF cannabis dispensaries leads to more illegal sales

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - Now that cannabis is legal San Francisco, voters will be deciding just how much those businesses should be paying in taxes.
In a week and a half, San Francisco voters will be deciding on Prop D, whether or not to tax some of the city's largest cannabis businesses in the city, those bringing in more than $500,000 per year on top of the regular 8.75% sales tax.

Read more at KTVU.com »

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Editorial: Vote no on SF Prop. D

Now that it’s legal in California, recreational cannabis needs to be tested, regulated and, no surprise, taxed.
Proposition D would hit outlets with a new city tax on top of other levies.
Cannabis may be a moneymaker for local government, but enacting an extra tax in Prop. D could drive consumers to the black market, which legalization aimed to end. The city controller predicts proceeds of $2 million to $4 million at first, growing to as much as $16 million in three years. 

Read more at SFChronicle.com »

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Endorsement: No on D

Taxing legalized weed is inevitable, and yes, dispensaries are becoming mainstream and many profitable. But that is not true for all. Let’s give them time to grow, pun intended. Just like the fledgling tech startups that used to dominate the Silicon Valley landscape, some cannabis companies in The City need a break. Challenged by rent increases, legal disputes with their landlords, and concern about federal government intervention, dispensaries need some more time to get their grounding.

Read more at SFExaminer.com »

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​Cannabis Tax Opposition Mounts

Why are some local officials and organizations eager to see Prop. D go down?

As expected, outgoing Supervisor Malia Cohen’s measure to levy a gross-receipts tax on local cannabis businesses comes before San Francisco voters on Nov. 6. Not surprisingly, efforts are already underway to stop Proposition D.

Read more at SFWeekly.com »

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Here is a letter written by David Goldman on behalf of the Brownie Mary Democratic Club encouraging voters to vote against Proposition D.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this. We hope you will make the right choice come November 6. Vote no on Prop D!
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Sincerely, 
Kevin Reed
Founder & President
The Green Cross