NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF BALLOT TITLE

Notice is hereby given that a ballot title for a City-referred measure has been filed with the Elections Office of the City of Portland on June 23, 2016. The measure is intended for the November 8, 2016 General Election.

An elector may file a petition for review of this ballot title in the Multnomah County Circuit Court no later than 5:00 P.M. on July 5, 2016.

The ballot title is as follows:

BALLOT TITLE

CAPTION

Establish tax on recreational marijuana sales; dedicate purposes for funds

QUESTION

Shall Portland establish 3% tax on recreational marijuana sales; fund drug, alcohol treatment; public safety; support neighborhood small businesses?

SUMMARY

Measure establishes a tax of three percent on recreational marijuana sales within the City of Portland. Measure is expected to raise $3 million per year.  Sales of marijuana to medical marijuana cardholders shall not be taxed. The 2015 Legislature reduced the state tax on recreational marijuana sales from 25% to 17% effective January 1, 2017, and allowed local jurisdictions to ask for voter approval of a 3% local tax. Net proceeds from the tax will be dedicated to drug and alcohol education and treatment programs, services that increase access to these programs, and rehabilitation services; public safety investments, such as police DUII training and enforcement, firefighter paramedics, street infrastructure that improves safety; support for neighborhood small businesses, especially women-owned and minority-owned businesses; and providing economic opportunity and education to communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. Requires independent City Budget Office oversight, annual public reporting, annual City Council vote on allocations, periodic audits on use of funds.