"Oakland Dispensaries Sold 4.2 Million Joints This Year"

[Xicano]

City's Medical Pot Sales Reach $35 Million In 2010

Most sectors of the economy are pretty grim right now, but that assessment doesn't include the medical marijuana business in Oakland, California.

The city is projecting that Oakland's 'three' dispensaries will sell between $35 million and $38 million worth of cannabis this year, reports Zusha Elinson at The Bay Citizen. That means about three and a quarter tons of marijuana -- 104,000 ounces, or 4.2 million joints.

The total has been getting higher and higher since Oakland started keeping track in 2004, when the dispensaries paid taxes on $4.2 million worth of sales. The figures are derived from the business tax paid to the city by dispensaries on their gross receipts.

Harborside Health Center, in particular -- the largest dispensary in the Bay Area -- was mentioned by David MacPherson, Oakland's revenue manager who provided the numbers. Harborside reports bringing in annual revenue of about $20 million.

"Harborside has jumped up in the top percent of businesses in the city," MacPherson said.

Like many other cities, Oakland is in dire financial straits. Things are so bad that the city was forced to lay off 80 police officers earlier this year, and the budget deficit is now at $32 million.

And, of course, city politicians are hoping that cannabis will fill the budget gap. Plans are afoot to allow more dispensaries, beyond the three already existing. The city is also eying large marijuana cultivation operations that would bring yet more tax revenue -- although Obama's Justice Department has threatened to intervene if Oakland follows through on that plan.

[hlthe2b]

1. I hope Denver dispensaries are doing as well-- $$ tax revenues!

[Hawkeye-X]

2. I am out of money but do plan to buy more next week...

when I get my bennies...

[Xicano]

3. I hope so too.

I hope to see the day when marijuana is not a crime.

:hi:


Peace,
Xicano

[Initech]

4. They're blazin' it up in the Bay Area!

:smoke:

[NBachers]

5. I belong to Harborside. What a top-notch, professional organization

[Heywood J]

6. Why is 'three' in quotes?

Good on them for finding a legal revenue source in hard times, though. Even better that it's one which helps people.