Berkeley, CA – Berkeley Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett marks a trailblazing move which aimed at bolstering Berkeley’s legal cannabis industry and curtailing the illicit market. Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett has enacted a game-changing “tax holiday” for the city’s legal cannabis businesses.
Berkeley Vice Mayor Bartlett introduced urgent legislation calling on the City of Berkeley to adopt a temporary exemption from the collection of taxes under BMC Chapter 9.04.136(D): Tax Rate for Non-Medical and Medical Cannabis Businesses. Co-sponsored by Mayor Jesse Arreguin and Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett, the item was approved on the consent Calendar at the July 11th, 2023 Berkeley City Council meeting.
Vice Mayor Bartlett Invited To Speak On This Path-Breaking Resolution
We expect Berkeley Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett to join Zennie Abraham to talk about his landmark new Berkeley resolution in the near future, and at this livestream vessel, below.
Berkeley Is The Home Of Legal Cannabis
“Berkeley is the home of legal cannabis; we need to make sure the industry survives,” Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett stated, echoing his belief in the importance of this initiative for the city’s economy and public safety.
The City of Berkeley has set a precedent for the rest of the state with this tax holiday by prioritizing the needs of its community over higher taxes. Codifications should be tailored to the needs of the communities they set forth to govern instead of being burdensome to local merchants or, worse, driving them out of business. “Cannabis is not the cash crop we thought it was. Let’s not tax it to death,” said Vice Mayor Bartlett, reiterating his commitment to addressing the economic strain currently felt by the industry.
It is imperative that the individuals we have selected to represent us are advocating and legislating with the community’s best interests in mind. Which means taking into account the community’s local merchants when enacting legislation.
Various cities in Alameda County have set differing cannabis tax rates, some of which have led to an exodus of supply chain businesses to lower tax rate jurisdictions. To remain competitive and attract new cannabis businesses, Berkeley has considered lowering its business license tax on Non-Medical Cannabis businesses.
This legislation will permit licensed cannabis businesses in Berkeley to pay the business license tax that applies to their respective area of the market during the moratorium, such as retail, manufacturing, etc.
The new legislation not only encourages greater compliance within the cannabis industry, but also supports the growth of legal and licensed businesses while discouraging illicit activities. The lowered tax rate will enable the city’s legal cannabis businesses to thrive, providing high-wage, competitive jobs, and access to safe, tested cannabis for Berkeley’s residents and visitors.
Berkeley Councilmember Mark Humbert articulated the threat of the illegal market, stating, “The illegal market is dangerous for a wide range of reasons, from the increase of EVALI (e-cigarette/ vaping product-use-associated lung injury) to environmental degradation. Illegal cannabis growth has serious negative impacts on public lands.”
Mayor Arreguin echoed this sentiment stating “By looking at the success of similar programs in other cities and catering it towards the needs of Berkeley, we can develop safe and stronger legal cannabis businesses in our community,”
New Berkeley Legislation Will Encourage Cannabis Industry Compliance
The new legislation not only encourages greater compliance within the cannabis industry, but also supports the growth of legal and licensed businesses while discouraging illicit activities. The lowered tax rate will enable the city’s legal cannabis businesses to thrive, providing high-wage, competitive jobs, and access to safe, tested cannabis for Berkeley’s residents and visitors.
Berkeley has always been a leader in drug policy reform so, it comes as no surprise, as the state continues to fail the licensed cannabis industry with excessive red tape and astronomical taxes, that the City has stepped up for its legacy operators and given them this vital relief. As most in the industry know, over two thirds of the cannabis purchased in California is in the unlicensed market because it’s cheaper. But it’s unsafe and unregulated. This city is making it safer for patients and cannabis consumers by making legal cannabis more affordable.
–Nara Dahlbacka, Partner at Milo Group of California, Inc.
“Here’s the thing – our community needs to know we have their back,” Vice Mayor Bartlett iterated. Looking out for our community means ensuring that our people are safe and that our merchants and small businesses are being defended instead of being run out by illegal enterprises.