1 Vernice Hankins
From: vanessa franco <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:54 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Public comment for July 26, 2022, agenda item 11.C - Cannabis Tax measure
EXTERNAL
Dear Honorable City Council Members,
My name is Vanessa Franco. I work in the medical field and I am a supporter of legal cannabis in the city of Santa Monica. I lived in Santa Monica and I'd like to express my support for the ballot measures for a cannabis business license tax. I still visit and patronize many loca businesses in Santa Monica and a legal cannabis retail store would be great addition to the city.
Santa Monica is losing a lot of tax revenue to the city of Los Angeles, which have cannabis retailers that are operating near Santa Monica. I voted for proposition 64 which passed with over 74% of the vote in Santa Monica. I know a proposed cannabis ballot tax measure will pass at the upcoming November election. Please take into consideration the measure.
Thank you, City Council and Staff.
Vanessa Franco
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From: Joese Gloria <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 5:48 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Supporting cannabis business license tax
EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
My name is Joese Hernandez. I am a supporter of cannabis in Santa Monica. I am emailing the City Council to express my support for the ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax.
There are no licensed cannabis retailers in Santa Monica. A cannabis business license tax represents the first step to change this, as a tax is needed on cannabis retailers to ensure these retailer businesses benefit the City. The City of Santa Monica could potentially be losing revenue due to the unlicensed/unregulated “Trap shops” or illegal dispensaries located near Santa Monica. We are undoubtedly losing revenue to Los Angeles and Culver City, which have legal cannabis retailers located right outside Santa Monica.
Thank you for your consideration.
Joese Hernandez
‐‐
Joesé Gloria Hernandez (he/him/his)
"Live the Life you Love, Love the Life you Live"
Item 11.C
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Caleb Austin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 11.C. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR 7-26-2022, SANTA MONICA COUNCIL MEETING -
BALLOT MEASURE ON CANNABIS
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members,
My name is Caleb Austin. I am a strong supporter of cannabis coming to Santa Monica. I am emailing you to express my support for the ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis, agenda item 11.C. As you know, there are no lawfully operating dispensaries in Santa Monica. A tax on cannabis would fiscally benefit the city, especially during these difficult Covid 19 times. We are losing much needed revenue to other cities that are operating right outside Santa Monica.
It is very important to me and my family that the City Council place the proposed cannabis tax on the ballot at the up coming November election.
Respectfully,
Caleb
Item 11.C
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Perla Garcia <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:16 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 11.C. Public Comment for 7-26-2022 City Council Meeting - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis
EXTERNAL
To whom it may concern:
My name is Perla Garcia. I am an educator and a supporter of legal cannabis in Santa Monica. I am writing to the Santa Monica City Council to express my support for the ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax.
Shockingly at this time there are no legal cannabis retailers legally operating in the city. The proposed cannabis tax is the first step to change this, a tax is needed on cannabis retailers to ensure these retailer businesses benefit the City of Santa Monica. The city is losing revenue to the City of Los Angeles which have cannabis retailers that are operating and we as residents see no tax benefits from.
Since Proposition 64 passed so strongly in Santa Monica with over 74% of the vote, the proposed cannabis ballot measure tax will no doubt pass at the upcoming November election.
With the certain passage of the proposed cannabis tax at the upcoming election the City Council is finally on the path to permitting retailers.
Thank you, City Council.
Perla
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:13 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: RE: Santa Monica Public Comment for July 26, 2022, City Council Meeting, Item # 11.C - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis
EXTERNAL
Hello,
My name is Jason Quintana. I am a long time resident of Santa Monica and I am writing / emailing the Santa Monica City Council to express my support for the ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis in our city.
In 2016, I voted in favor of Proposition 64, but to this day there are no legal / licensed cannabis retailers operating in Santa Monica. The ballot measure for business license tax represents the first step to change this. Our City is losing revenue to the City of Los Angeles and Culver City, which have cannabis retailers that are operating right outside the City.
Proposition 64 passed so strongly in Santa Monica with over 74% of the vote and a ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax in our City will no doubt pass at the upcoming election in November.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jason Quintana
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From: AdaMary Osuna <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:17 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: For public Comment for 7/26/2022 City Council Meeting Agenda Item 11.C - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to you to express my support for a proposed cannabis tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis in our city. I believe we should accommodate the needs of medically-ill persons in need of cannabis for medicinal purposes. There are no legal retail cannabis dispensaries allowed to operate in Santa Monica. The ballot measure for business license tax on cannabis represents the first step to change this.
Plus, Santa Monica is losing tax revenue to other cities near which have dispensaries that are operating outside Santa Monica. My family and I voted for Proposition 64 six years ago in hopes of having legal cannabis. I know that with the passage of a cannabis ballot tax measure my family and I will be very motivated to vote this upcoming November. Our city needs cannabis now!
Thank you, distinguished City Council Members.
AdaMary Osuna
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Danielle Lopez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:31 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: For Agenda Item 11.C - Public Comment for July 26th 2022, City Council Meeting Age - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis
EXTERNAL
Hello Santa Monica City Council,
My name is Danielle M. Lopez. I am writing to express my support for the ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis.
To this day there are no legal cannabis dispensaries operating in Santa Monica. The ballot measure for business license tax is the first step to change this. Santa Monica is losing hundreds of thousands of tax dollar revenue to Los Angeles, which has cannabis dispensaries that are operating right outside Santa Monica.
I have no doubt residents in Santa Monica will come out to support the ballot measure. Six years ago, we came out to support Proposition 64 with a +70% favorability in the city. Again, I believe the time is now for Santa Monica to pass a ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax.
Sincerely,
Danielle M. Lopez
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Andres Felipe Rivera <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:49 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: RE Agenda Item 11.C, 7/26/2022 - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis. Public Comment for City Council Meeting
EXTERNAL
My name is Andres Rivera and I support 100 percent for legal cannabis to come to the City of Santa Monica. Why are there no legal dispensaries operating in Santa Monica? The time is now! Your agenda Item
11.C, represents the first step to change this. We definitely need a tax on cannabis dispensaries to ensure these tax dollars benefit the City Santa Monica and its residents.
More importantly, legal dispensaries accommodate the needs of medically-ill persons in need of cannabis for medicinal purposes. A UC Davis study has found that counties/cities with cannabis dispensaries experienced lower mortality rates for opioid use. This could give Santa Monica residents an alternative pain management that improves their health outcomes.
For the health benefit of our community, please place the proposed cannabis tax measure on the 2022 November ballot. Thank you, City Council Members.
Respectfully,
Andres
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Will Oconnor <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:34 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: RE: Public Comment for 7-26-2022 City Council Meeting Agenda Item 11.C - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members,
My name is William O'Connor. I am an advocate for cannabis finally coming to the City of Santa Monica. I am writing to express my support for a proposed cannabis tax measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis. Surprisingly, to this day there are no licensed cannabis retailers allowed in Santa Monica. The ballot measure for business license tax represents the first step to change this, as a tax is needed on cannabis retailers to ensure these businesses benefit the City. Santa Monica is losing revenue to the City of Los Angeles and others, which have cannabis retailers that are operating right outside Santa Monica. A ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax will pass at the upcoming November election. I know this because in 2016 Proposition 64 passed strongly in Santa Monica. Again, I fully support the City Council placing the cannabis ballot measure tax on the ballot and I hope that you do as well.
Respectfully,
William O'Connor
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2 Vernice Hankins
From: Tyler Brandow <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:33 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: For Public Comment for July 26, 2022 City Council Meeting Agenda - Ballot measure for a business license tax on the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of cannabis. Agenda Item 11.C
EXTERNAL
Hello,
My name is Tyler Brandow. I am a supporter of cannabis in Santa Monica. I am emailing the City Council to express my support for the ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax.
I still can’t believe there are no legal cannabis dispensaries allowed to operate lawfully in Santa Monica. This ballot measure for business license tax represents the first step to ensure dispensaries are allowed in the city.
Woo hoo and I applaud you for it!
Furthermore, the city is losing millions of dollars in tax revenue to Los Angeles and Culver City, which have cannabis dispensaries that are located right outside the City. I have no doubt that a ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax will pass at the upcoming election. This measure would benefit Santa Monica residents immensely. More importantly, it would allow people to legally purchase cannabis tinctures and other products that they consume for medical purposes.
I hope that you consider taking up this important measure. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Tyler Brandow
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: James Marks <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:04 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica Agenda Item Email - July 26
EXTERNAL
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members,
My name is James Marks and I am writing to you so that you consider supporting Agenda Item 11.C, a ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax in Santa Monica.
There are no licensed cannabis retailers in the City of Santa Monica. Cannabis tax revenue could help alleviate some of the economic hardships we’ve experienced during the pandemic. The City of Santa Monica is losing potential revenue due to the unregulated and illegal cannabis market in the area.
Thank you for considering this action.
James E.Marks ll‐ Blue
PS‐ Every day above Ground with Family and Good Health is a GOD (good) day, despite all the things life may and will throw your way !!!
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