Economics

Cannabis is in the Town

Published

8 years ago

December 30, 2017

From left to right: Richard Valle, Alameda County Supervisor, District 2, Dr. Asif Maan, Chief of the Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch (MCSB) within California Department of Public Health, Lori Ajax, Chief of Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, Richard Parrott, Director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division, Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley serve on a panel discussion at the Alameda County Winter Cannabis Summit 2017. Photo by Carla Thomas.

Cannabis is now in the town. Like it or not the sale and taxation of pot will be legal in California beginning January 1, 2018.

In preparation for the new industry, Alameda County has been actively involved in helping shape the landscape of cannabis cultivation, retail sale, manufacturing, and distribution in California. By hosting a Winter Cannabis Summit at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chambers in downtown Oakland, the County wanted to educate the public on a legal, taxed and tightly-regulated system for medical and adult use cannabis.

About 100 stakeholders attended three forums throughout the day. With Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley serving as moderator, attendees heard from Lori Ajax, Chief Bureau of Cannabis Control, Richard Parrott, Director, CalCannabis Cultivation Safety, California Department of Public Health, and Dr. Asif Mann Chief of Office of Manufactured Cannabis Safety, California Department of Public Health who provided an overview slide presentation.

“The cannabis industry is emerging as a major force,” said Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. “We have a great opportunity for a new source of untapped tax revenue to strengthen our public infrastructure.”

“As we move forward issuing the first state licenses for commercial cannabis activity, the state’s three licensing authorities are grateful for the opportunity to interact with our key local government partners,“ said Ajax. “A tremendous amount of work has gone into this process and we wouldn’ be in the position we are today without the feedback received at events like this summit.”

An afternoon panel discussion featured Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, prevention specialists, and community partners focused on what legalization brings and cannabis education for youth.

The session also included information about how schools and community groups can prevent access to cannabis.

The changes society can expect from the legalization of marijuana was another panel that featured O’Malley along with Susan Fanelli, Assistant Director, California Department of Public Health and attorneys specializing in Cannabis law, Chris Halor and Robert Reich.

Judy Appel, Drug Policy Alliance, Dr. Dale Gieringer State Coordinator California NORMAL, Ralph Cantore, Educator, Jennifer Ellis, Prevention Specialist served in an afternoon session on (CEYAA), Cannabis Education Youth & Adult Awareness.
Elsa Casanova, a Prevention Specialist and Project Manager for Ashland Cherryland Together said that her organization is working closely with Supervisor Nate Miley to develop a campaign targeting youth.

“We focus on environmental strategies to prevent the use of cannabis by youth,” she said.

Casanova also shared that the campaign’s development will be patterned similar to the state campaign called “Let’s Talk About Cannabis.” Youth and educators will also be involved in the process.

Handouts were also provided detailing how to obtain a temporary license application, the breakdown of licensing authorities and frequently asked questions regarding medicinal and adult use cannabis cultivation licensing.

The handouts also explained that the rules and regulations for commercial cannabis activity include the cultivation, possession, manufacture, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, packaging, labeling, transportation delivery, or sale of cannabis and cannabis products.

However, this does not include personal use cultivation that is done at a private residence in accordance with health and safety code sections 1136 2.1 and 1136 2.2, or by a patient or primary caregiver pursuant to health and safety code section 11362.77.

For more information, visit CalCannabis.cdfa.ca.gov

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of February 11 = 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

Published

2 days ago

February 16, 2026

Oakland Post

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Business

California Launches Study on Mileage Tax to Potentially Replace Gas Tax as Republicans Push Back

Under current law, California depends heavily on revenue from the gas tax to fund roads, highways, and infrastructure, but those revenues are projected to shrink as electric vehicle use grows and overall gasoline consumption drops. The mileage study would look at a “road charge” system where drivers pay based on how many miles they drive, rather than how much gas they buy.

Published

1 week ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City is the author of AB 1421. File photo.

By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

California lawmakers are moving forward with a study to explore a mileage-based tax as a potential replacement for the state’s traditional gas tax — a shift supporters say is driven by declining fuel tax revenues as more drivers switch to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.

The research, tied to Assembly Bill (AB) 1421, would extend and support work by the state’s Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee through 2035.

The bill does not yet enact a new tax. Instead, it extends the study and advisory work until 2035 and would have the Legislature receive findings and recommendations, with a report due by Jan. 1, 2027.

Republicans in the California Legislature have been vocal in their opposition. Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora criticized the proposal.

“We already pay the highest gas taxes in the nation. Now Sacramento is talking about adding a new tax for every mile people drive,” Flora said. “Piling on another tax right now shows just how out of touch politicians in Sacramento are with the reality working families face.”

The plan has drawn broader GOP criticism from leaders outside the Legislature as well. California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton called a mileage fee “absolutely outrageous” and said, if elected, he would veto the tax, adding that tracking and charging drivers for every mile is unacceptable.

Supporters say the study is a pragmatic response to long-term funding challenges.

On the Assembly Floor on Jan. 29, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D–Suisun City), the bill’s author, said that California’s transportation funding is “becoming less stable, less equitable, and less sustainable as more drivers switch to fuel-efficient and zero-emission vehicles.”

“Drivers using the same roads often pay different amounts for that use,” Wilson continued. “Low income and rural commuters who must drive farther and less efficient vehicles can pay more while others contribute less despite roadway impacts.”

Wilson and other supporters contend that a per-mile road charge could ensure that all drivers contribute fairly to the costs of maintaining roads, regardless of the type of vehicle they drive.