Oakland votes to permit large marijuana farms

[babylonsister]

Oakland votes to permit large marijuana farms
Updated 1h 25m ago


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Oakland has moved closer to becoming the first city in the United States to authorize wholesale pot cultivation.

The Oakland City Council voted 5-2 with one abstention late Tuesday in favor of a plan to license four production plants where marijuana would be grown, packaged and processed.

The vote came after more than two hours of public comment, with speakers divided between those who opposed the measure — largely on the grounds that it would put small medical marijuana growers out of business — and those who said it would generate millions of dollars for the California city in taxes and sales and create hundreds of jobs.

The plants would not be limited in size — one potential applicant for a license wants to open a plant that would produce over 21,000 pounds of pot a year — but they would be heavily taxed and regulated.

Those vying for one of the four licenses would have to pay $211,000 in annual permit fees, carry $2 million worth of liability insurance and be prepared to devote up to 8% of gross sales to taxes.

Proponents of the measure also touted the possibility of Oakland becoming the U.S. cannabis capital, especially if California voters approve the legalization of recreational marijuana in November.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-21-oakland-pot-farms_N.htm

[Scurrilous]

1. K & R

:thumbsup:

[4_TN_TITANS]

2. As much as I applaud this...

I can't help but feel that this is just Big Agribusiness rearing it's ugly head. Would these producers have as much incentive as the little guys to breed a potent, quality product?