62 Local Measures Seek To Tax And Regulate Marijuana

There are 62 local measures on the November ballot. They propose a range of taxes and regulation of pot-related sales and business in cities and counties including taxing grow operations and limiting dispensaries.

Tim Cromartie is a lobbyist for the League of California Cities. The League had previously opposed legislation regulating medical marijuana. But now - as Cromartie puts it - they've pivoted.

"This is coming. And if it's going to come, we don't want to get run over by it. It's better for us to embrace it with the agenda of having local control," says Cromartie. "And having local jurisdictions set the rules up to and including are we going to have these businesses in our community, as opposed to say 'no' to everything and marginalizing ourselves."

When Cromartie looks at Prop 64 he sees a gap in local regulation of pot-related commerce.

That's in contrast with medical marijuana rules passed last year - which require business licensing at both the state and local level.

"Dual licensing requires every jurisdiction in the state to roll up their sleeves and say, 'What kind of regulatory structure do we want - and do we want one?' And even if it's as simple as a ban, they have to enact something," says Cromartie. 

But under Prop 64 local jurisdictions don't have to establish marijuana regulations. And so if they don't take action the state rules for licensing will apply.

*Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the number of local marijuana measures in California. This article has been corrected. 

LOCAL MARIJUANA MEASURES PER COUNTY