Vote Yes on Measure MM and NO on MA

LBReport.com

Opinion

by Diana Lejins *
Ms. Lejins heads Advocates for Disability Rights and is a long-time proponent of access to medical marijuana

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

Paid political content
Attention Long Beach, Signal Hill, San Pedro & Catalina:

NEW: MARTHA FLORES GIBSON won't do what our current Assemblyman did. SEE how he behaved on VIDEO:
Apple/iPhone, here
Android / Windows, here

See MARTHA FLORES GIBSON on why she'll do a better job in Sac'to Assembly
Apple/iPhone, here
Windows/Android, here

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT www.MarthaFloresGibson.com
Paid for by Martha Flores Gibson for Assembly 2016 (Dist.70) State ID # 1387345

Paid advocacy content
AND for VIDEO and FURTHER INFORMATION on EL DORADO AUDUBON, CLICK HERE.
Paid for by El Dorado Audubon

(Oct. 16, 2016) -- Voters are understandably confused regarding the three Marijuana measures on the November ballot. Hopefully, this will clarify the issues.

State Proposition 64 legalizes and regulates marijuana for ADULT use in California.
City Measure MM (Medical Marijuana) is a people's initiative to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in Long Beach so that people who are sick and/or disabled can access medicine and assistance. It contains special tax provisions (6%) plus $10 per square foot of cultivation that should more than adequately cover any city costs of administration.

City Measure MA is another City Hall grab for money on the backs of patients who cannot get reimbursement from their insurance companies for this life-saving medicine. The city's proposed taxes can be raised to 8% for each step of the process (potentially 36%), add another 10% sales tax, 10% state tax, plus $15+ per square foot, resulting in the highest taxes in the nation (a whopping 76-86%). No provisions are made for crop failure, expenses or other financial concerns. Politicians want you to believe these funds will be used for public safety, but there are no guarantees or any oversight. This is a tax measure only.

[Scroll down for further.]

MA is a cruel, politically-calculated attempt to excessively tax medical use of cannabis without any consideration for the welfare of sick and disabled citizens. NO other prescribed MEDICINE is taxed in California. Many patients will be forced to black market dealers who will NOT be taxed.

Most of us will suffer from a serious illness at some point in our lifetimes--Alzheimer's, MS, chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer. For legitimately using cannabis, you could be literally taxed to death.

Please vote NO on MA (Must Avoid) and YES on MM.

Opinions expressed by LBREPORT.com, our contributors and/or our readers are not necessary those of our advertisers. We welcome our readers' comments/opinions 24/7 via Disqus, Facebook and moderate length letters and longer-form op-ed pieces submitted to us at mail@LBReport.com.