Following Benicia’s example

The city of Benicia has been an inspiration to the city of Vallejo. Just last month, the Vallejo City Council voted to place a measure on their November ballot that would ask residents if Vallejo should allow “A” license cannabis activity (adult use) at their eleven “M” license (medicinal) dispensaries. Now they have abruptly changed course and scheduled a study session next month on “A” license activity. They have even started an online poll similar to the Town Hall survey on cannabis our city took several months ago. It appears the steady leadership on regulated markets in our city has not gone unnoticed by Vallejo and others.
The fact that Vallejo has a whopping 10 percent added tax on all sales that will shift most Vallejo consumers to Benicia may have also played a role in their sudden but expected revisit on the issue. Money talks, and Vallejo stands to lose a lot of it by restricting cannabis to medicinal sales only, not to mention burdening consumers with an added tax on top of sales and excise taxes. The Vallejo City Council can elect to lower their added tax, but at even more cost.
Meanwhile, Benicia is poised to capture the markets of several surrounding cities in Solano County as well as parts of Napa and Contra Costa counties that ban cannabis activity except for deliveries. While some in our community have said we are going “too fast” on cannabis regulation, other Bay Area cities have taken notice and are now playing catchup, following our lead. I predict American Canyon will be the next to reconsider a cannabis ban. The city of Napa is now looking at regulated storefronts as well. Were they inspired by Benicia’s leading edge example?

Stan Golovich,
Benicia

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