Oakland approves measures allowing large marijuana farms, small growers upset

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Oakland, Calif. is hoping to cash in on marijuana.

Oakland's City Council is high on marijuana as a budding business.

The California city's politicians adopted measures that give the go-ahead for large-scale pot farms as a way to generate revenue and regulate the industry late Tuesday night.

In other words, Oakland wants cannabis to go capitalist.

The city will give permits for four, industrial-sized operations, which can be as large as 100,000 square feet, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

The move could really pay off for the city if state voters approve Prop. 19, a November ballot initiative that would legalize recreational use of pot.

For starters, applicants must spend $5,000 to cover the administrative costs the city will charge. They must also have $3 million for insurance and fork over a $211,000 annual permit fee to the city.

As of now, the four dispensaries that operate in Oakland grossed roughly $28 million in 2009 and the city plans to raise its current 1.8% tax to as much as 12%, the Oakland Tribune reported.

But not everyone is pleased with the city's new regulations, especially small marijuana farmers, who say the four pot factories will push them out of business and dilute the product.

"Government should not choose the winners and losers but create a level playing field," said Steve DeAngelo, who runs the largest medical marijuana dispensary in the country and opposes the City Council decision. "Some people might prefer mass production, assembly-line cannabis that costs less. Others might prefer cannabis grown by a master gardener in a smaller plot.

"Let the market sort it out," DeAngelo told the Chronicle.

In 1996, California voters decided that marijuana can be classified as medicine.

http://www.nydailynews.co...z0uKVjaLzw

Calvin Broadus will be there!

BklynBabe said:

Calvin Broadus will be there!

Sheeeit! I would be there too if I lived in Cally!

it pisses me off that this is happening now that I don't smoke anymore!

all eyes will be on California in November!

JerseyKRS said:

all eyes will be on California in November!

might be worth being called the n-word to go visit

BklynBabe said:

JerseyKRS said:

all eyes will be on California in November!

might be worth being called the n-word to go visit

They wouldn't call YOU the N word . . .

You would just hear non-African American teens using it . . . .

But smoke some and it won't even matter . . . .

SUPRMAN said:

BklynBabe said:

might be worth being called the n-word to go visit

They wouldn't call YOU the N word . . .

You would just hear non-African American teens using it . . . .

But smoke some and it won't even matter . . . .

We're so close. SO CLOSE! Come on voters. Think about all the things that could possibly be fixed without a further increase to your state taxes. All the money it will save fighting this particular drug and paying to house "criminals" with offenses that relate to only herb. If it doesn't work we can always change things back. But damn it! It's worth trying.

NDRU said:

it pisses me off that this is happening now that I don't smoke anymore!

WHY did i move away from oakland!

I just don't understand how the government can ignore the benefits. Legalize herb and you will instantly gain revenue and cut down on the crime and astrocities associated with transporting it from Mexico. Hell, alcohol IMO is much more dangerous and deadly than herb. Have you ever heard of any one dying from using marijuana? Perhaps if some of the naysayers would try a good spliff, they would just chill and and STFU!

The door to legalization is being opened by California's huge budget defecit. It's bittersweet.

They can tax the shit out of it for all I care, as long as I can have a 5' x 5' garden and legally carry up to an ounce...that's the end of the story.

Anyway, do you have any idea how LOW in price the plant will become? Usage is projected to increase 150% (and that is in a state where medicinal usage is already in place!) and prices could fall by as much as 80%.

JerseyKRS said:

The door to legalization is being opened by California's huge budget defecit. It's bittersweet.

They can tax the shit out of it for all I care, as long as I can have a 5' x 5' garden and legally carry up to an ounce...that's the end of the story.

Anyway, do you have any idea how LOW in price the plant will become? Usage is projected to increase 150% (and that is in a state where medicinal usage is already in place!) and prices could fall by as much as 80%.

I say bring it on!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ERmJGOdEd0

Legal for farmers willing to pay huge yearly fees is not legal to grow or buy for all. You still need a "medical prescription" and a cannibus club card to enter the shops and make purchases. But there is a real possibility that this could change in November.

Cerebus said:

Legal for farmers willing to pay huge yearly fees is not legal to grow or buy for all. You still need a "medical prescription" and a cannibus club card to enter the shops and make purchases. But there is a real possibility that this could change in November.

This is growing on a commercial scale.

California already allows 'personal' growing and use.

When you buy it in large quantities do you also get a trailer park to go with it?

SUPRMAN said:

Cerebus said:

Legal for farmers willing to pay huge yearly fees is not legal to grow or buy for all. You still need a "medical prescription" and a cannibus club card to enter the shops and make purchases. But there is a real possibility that this could change in November.

This is growing on a commercial scale.

California already allows 'personal' growing and use.

Only with a card, which requires you to have been to a doctor and received a prescription.

Cerebus said:

SUPRMAN said:

This is growing on a commercial scale.

California already allows 'personal' growing and use.

Only with a card, which requires you to have been to a doctor and received a prescription.

but you don't exactly need cancer to get a prescription

Oakland approves measures allowing large marijuana farms, small growers upset....

*puff, puff, pass* but they're over it now.

California!

We have massive debt!!

We have weed!

We don't give a fuck!

NDRU said:

Cerebus said:

Only with a card, which requires you to have been to a doctor and received a prescription.

but you don't exactly need cancer to get a prescription

I'm quite certain I have no idea what you're talking about. *whistles*

JerseyKRS said:

The door to legalization is being opened by California's huge budget defecit. It's bittersweet.

They can tax the shit out of it for all I care, as long as I can have a 5' x 5' garden and legally carry up to an ounce...that's the end of the story.

Anyway, do you have any idea how LOW in price the plant will become? Usage is projected to increase 150% (and that is in a state where medicinal usage is already in place!) and prices could fall by as much as 80%.

This whole thread

there is so much that I love about this concept, this notion, the legalization AND this thread...

however...

I am worried about the possible WalMartization of Weed... that would HELLA suck!!

RenHoek said:

there is so much that I love about this concept, this notion, the legalization AND this thread...

however...

I am worried about the possible WalMartization of Weed... that would HELLA suck!!

Why would that suck?

Are you against commercial farming? That's how about 99% of the grain in the U.S. is grown.

Most vegetables and fruits are commercial operations also.

Need I mention meat?

So I don't understand the problem with it being a commercial farming operation supplying to Wal-Mart . . .

How is one city deciding this is okay

I thought these were national laws?

Cinnie said:

How is one city deciding this is okay

I thought these were national laws?

Federal law says possession and cultivation are crimes.

State law says possession is a misdemeanor and decriminalized ( no jail time, just a ticket unless it's DUI.)

The Obama Administration isn't prosecuting marijuana cases short of dealer status, so for now Oakland is fine.

So it's not posession if you have a whole farm of it? Don't mean to be daft, I really don't get it.