As of next January 1st, the owners of the 12 medical marijuana dispensaries (that are in unincorporated areas of the Santa Cruz county) will be able to sell recreational. That’s because county supervisors unanimously voted last night to allow those sales. The owners of those dispensaries will still need a state license to begin legal sales to people who are 21 years-old and older. The state has yet to create a licensing framework. In a 3-to-2 split vote, with supervisors McPherson and Leopold dissenting (in favor of a lower rate)…..the board also passed a new tax structure for cannabis businesses (that requires marijuana growers and manufacturers to pay a 5 percent tax). That tax will increase to 6 percent in 2020 and to 7 percent in 2022.
