[420 Girl]

Oakland has taken a major step toward becoming first U.S. city to issue permits to legally grow marijuana. Oakland's Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 Wednesday to approve a plan to allow and tax large indoor marijuana grow operations.

Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan co-authored the proposal.

Kaplan said the permit process would raise money while cutting down on crime and the potential for fires from illegal indoor grow operations.

"The permits for these facilities will have fire safety inspections, electrical inspections, requirements to have security guards," said Kaplan. "So it's definitely a revenue benefit. But it's also a public safety benefit."

The proposal would allow four large growers to be licensed in the first year. Their crop could be sold to dispensaries in Oakland and throughout California.

Growers would have to pay $5,000 for a permit, a $210,000 regulatory fee and $60,000 for a dispensary permit.

Councilwoman Kaplan was frank about the potential for the city to make money.

"It's definitely a revenue issue," Kaplan said. "Cannabis is the largest dollar value cash crop bought and sold in California."

Some cannabis advocates at Oaksterdam University hailed the committee vote as a victory, saying the proposal fits into a much larger constellation of cannabis legislation.

"In November it could become very important," said University spokesman Richard Lee. "Because as we look to change our laws to allow all adults to consume cannabis we're going to need a lot more production facilities."

Some smaller growers say they are worried big operations will force them out of the growing business.

The matter now goes before the full city council, where a decision could be made next month. If passed, the proposal likely wouldn't take effect until next year.


NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: KTVU.com
Contact: KTVU.com
Copyright: 2010 KTVU.com
Website: Is The Economy Driving Marijuana Legalization Efforts?

* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article


http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...n-efforts.html