Gold Hill, Ore. — The owner of Gold Hill’s only medical marijuana dispensary is threatening to sue the city as city council talks about reinstating a sales tax for her patients.
Gold Hill enacted the 5 percent sales tax on Breeze Botanicals in June 2014 the money going strictly to public safety. City Manager Rick Hohnbaum said it was a precautionary measure in case the dispensary brought in additional crime. But seeing no negative effect on the community the councilors voted to drop the tax in August. Now they’re talking about bringing it back.
Breeze Botanicals owner Brie Malarkey said it’s not fair to tax just one group of people, and if the tax is reinstated she will refuse to pay and take legal action. She also said House Bill 3400 makes it clear that it’s up to the state to be the taxing authority on marijuana. Malarkey’s attorney has already sent the city a letter saying they would fight the tax in court.
Hohnbaum said councilors who want to revisit the tax argue a reason the city decided to allow dispensaries in the first place is because the taxes would benefit the community. The tax will be discussed and maybe voted on at the October 5th city council meeting.
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