Starting next year, Oregon will decrease its current 25 percent tax on recreational pot to 17 percent, with an option for cities and counties to collect up to an additional three percent more in taxes, if voters agree.
Portland Commissioner, Amanda Fritz, has an idea for how to spend that extra three percentaround $3 million a yearthat will appeal to both law enforcement and marijuanaadvocates.
Fritz wants to use the pot tax to pay for drug and alcohol treatment, neighborhood small businesses, street safety and to help Portlanders who have suffered professionally and economically as a result of pre-legalization pot convictions.
For instance, helping with expunging peoples records who were convicted of cannabis-related crimes that wouldnt be a crime now, Fritzsaid in the Willamette Week.
Commissioner Fritz said conversations with marijuana industry lobbyists convinced her to advocate for people and communities that had been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition.
In proposing the additional three percent local pot tax, Fritz stressed the money should be used in a way that is related to how it was raised and said she would ensure it doesnt go into the general fund.
Theres been some suggestions to not dedicate it at all or to put it to something thats not related to marijuana use, and I think the taxes work best when theres a clear nexus between the people who pay and the people ...
