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You don’t have to live in California to know that they are facing a serious budget deficit. The Governator has answered lots of questions about potentially legalizing marijuana for tax purposes but as of now it still only remains legal for medical use. The city of Oakland isn’t waiting waiting for him or the federal government anymore to solve their problems though. They have taken the initiative to become the first city in the United States to tax medical marijuana.

Oakland’s bid to become the first U.S. city to tax proceeds on medical marijuana passed Tuesday by a landslide vote.

About 80 percent of voters chose to impose the tax on Oakland’s medical marijuana facilities, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Some celebrated the news at Oaksterdam University by hand-rolling large marijuana cigarettes or stuffing cannabis into pipes. The school trains students for work in the medical marijuana industry.

“It is important because the city of Oakland is facing a massive deficit like many jurisdictions in California,” said Steve DeAngelo, a leader of one of the city’s cannabis clubs. “And we decided to step up to the plate and make a contribution to the city in a time of need.”

DeAngelo, one of the people who led the effort to get the tax approved, said his business will now have to pay more than $350,000 from the new tax next year.

Hopefully more cities/states follow suite in this. Not because I want to pay more taxes but because more cities should allow access to medical marijuana but also marijuana for recreational use and watch millions in tax revenue come in.

[CNN via The Smoking Section]