Community Corner
Ban On Marijuana Dispensaries Upheld By Campbell Voters During Special Election
Campbell residents voted Tuesday to continue a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and to impose a tax on marijuana-related businesses.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA -- Campbell residents on Tuesday voted to continue a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and to impose a tax on marijuana-related businesses at an initial rate of seven percent, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.
However, voters rejected a third measure, a citizen's initiative that would have allowed up to three medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
About 90 percent of ballots have been counted in the election as of Thursday morning. Of the city's 22,537 registered voters, 6,560 cast votes in the special election, yielding a voter turnout of over 29 percent.
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Measure A, which levies a business tax of up to 15 percent on any future marijuana businesses, passed with almost 84.5 percent of the vote.
Though marijuana businesses remain illegal in Campbell, medical marijuana dispensaries have been legally able to deliver to patients in the city since Feb. 16.
Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
City officials estimate that Measure A funds will raise between $130,000 and $260,000 for general city services, including police, fire and code enforcement.
Almost 64 percent of voters rejected Measure B, the citizen's initiative that sought to allow a small number of dispensaries in the city.
Measure C, which passed with 63.1 percent of the vote, was placed on the ballot to compete with Measure B and institutes a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in the city until April 1, 2019, at the
earliest, and to allow City Council control over the city's marijuana policies afterward.
The measure requires any dispensaries that may be allowed in the city in the future to be at least 100 feet from homes and 600 feet from daycares, schools, parks, community centers and other dispensaries.
Measures B and C don't affect medical marijuana use in the city for qualified patients, who may continue to use it there.
Measure C was supported by former Campbell mayors Michael Kotowski, Elizabeth Gibbons and Dan Furtado. Kotowski and Furtado also voiced their support for Measure A.
Bay City News contributed to this vote/Image via Shutterstock
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