Pubdate: Fri, 19 Feb 2016
Source: Cowichan Valley Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Cowichan Valley Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4349
Author: Robert Barron

CITY WANTS SLICE OF FUTURE POT TAX WINDFALL

The City of Duncan is looking for its fair share of taxes from
marijuana dispensaries when they are finally legalized, even though
the city's bylaws currently prohibit such businesses.

City council passed a motion at Monday's meeting asking that the
Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby the
federal government to request that a portion of any future federal and
provincial tax collected through marijuana sales and distribution be
shared with local governments.

The resolution will be presented at the AVICC's conference, scheduled
for April 9, and also forwarded to the Union of B.C.
Municipalities.

"The regulation and enforcement for medicinal marijuana retail
dispensaries will likely fall to the local governments once the law
changes, thus creating additional burdens on local government
resources," according the motion.

One of the campaign promises Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made in
November's federal election was to legalize marijuana, but it's
unknown at this time just how long it will take to finally change the
laws.

The city decided in January to strengthen its policies on the
dispensaries until the federal laws become clear.

After receiving a number requests to establish dispensaries in Duncan,
the city decided to place on its business applications that all
business licences would only be considered if they follow all the laws
of the land; municipal, provincial and federal.

Karen Robertson, Duncan's director of corporate affairs, said the city
is not opposed to the establishment of marijuana dispensaries within
its boundaries.

But she said Duncan "needs a thoughtful approach" to the issue until
the federal laws change.

As for Monday's motion on the sharing of future taxes on the
dispensaries once they are legal, Robertson said the intent is to "get
ahead of the curve" on the issue before any new laws on their
operations are introduced by the federal government.

Coun. Sharon Jackson said she believes that with so many Canadians in
favour of changing the nation's pot laws, the laws could change more
quickly than many think. But she said council has yet to have
discussions around where the dispensaries should be placed in the
city, and how many should be allowed.

"If Colorado is any indication, taxes from these operations in Canada
could be in the tens of millions of dollars," Jackson said.

"We want a share in those tax revenues, like we currently do with the
gas taxes. It could be a mammoth tax windfall for municipalities with
broken-down infrastructure."
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MAP posted-by: Matt