California: Don't Legalize Pot, Tax It Anyway

Different sets of voters, undoubtedly, but an interesting look at what California's pot future will be like if a local-option initiative such as Proposition 19 succeeds in the future:

Even though voters soundly rejected Proposition 19, cities around California managed to win approval for plans to tax marijuana.

The measures were mostly contingent on Proposition 19 passing, so it's doubtful they will have much effect unless pot legalization backers make another stab at a ballot measure sometime in the future.

La Puente voters approved two measures. One would have allowed the city to tax businesses that sell marijuana. The other would allow the city to impose taxes on medical marijuana establishments.

Sacramento and Rancho Cordova approved similar pot-tax measures. The Sacramento measure would have allowed a tax of up to 10% on recreational pot businesses.

San Jose voters also approved a pot sales tax of up to 10% to fund "essential City services such as police, fire, emergency response, street maintenance, pothole repair"

Look for a longer article on the rise and fall of 19 from me later in the week on Reason Online.