LAKE COUNTY >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved the placement of a medical marijuana cultivation tax measure for this year’s election at its regular meeting on Tuesday.
In a significantly shorter discussion than the initiative’s first reading on Aug. 2, it was passed unanimously. The only changes made were in ballot’s language to explain to voters that personal grows would be exempt from the levy.
“I just want to make it clear because we’ve had members of the public who’ve have read the ordinance that came up here and say ‘well you guys are taxing personal medical use,’” District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said when he proposed the changes. “The confusion is what’s going to defeat this measure.”
If passed, the measure — which taxes either $1 to $3 per square foot of grow depending on its type — is expected to bring in nearly $8 million in county revenue. County Counsel Anita Grant claimed that she came up with that number based on figures she received from various departments and analysis from other places like Humboldt County.
The election will be held on Nov. 8. It will require a simple majority to pass.
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock was absent from the meeting.
