I’m a NO on Los Angeles City Measure CB.
And honestly, this one feels like the city looked at illegal cannabis businesses and said, “Well… if we can’t stop them, maybe we can invoice them.”
Measure CB would allow the City of Los Angeles to tax illegal cannabis businesses at the same rates as legal ones — something supporters claim could generate $30 to $35 million a year for city services. It needs a simple majority—50 plus one—to pass.
Here’s my issue:
If the city already knows where these illegal businesses are… why aren’t they shutting them down?
Seriously.
Because the argument being made is basically:
“We know these businesses are operating illegally. We know they’re undercutting legal dispensaries. We know they aren’t following regulations. We know they’re selling untested products. We know they’re avoiding taxes…”
…yet somehow the solution is:
“Let’s tax them too.”
Excuse me, what?
Illegal businesses do not suddenly become responsible corporate citizens because you sent them a tax bill.
And if they’re already operating outside the law, why exactly are we assuming they’re suddenly going to start paying taxes?
That’s the part nobody can answer clearly.
Because if the city truly has the ability to identify these operations, then voters should be demanding enforcement. Shut them down. Protect the legal businesses actually trying to follow the rules. Protect consumers from unregulated products. Put resources into inspections, enforcement, and accountability.
Instead, this starts sounding dangerously close to:
“We’ll tolerate the illegal activity as long as we get a cut.”
And I’m sorry, but where does that logic stop?
What’s next?
Taxing illegal gambling operations and looking the other way?
Taxing drug dealers and calling it “revenue generation”?
Taxing sex work while pretending exploitation suddenly becomes acceptable because City Hall gets a percentage?
That’s not governance. That’s budgeting by shrug emoji.
Even opponents of the measure have raised concerns that it could legitimize illegal cannabis businesses and create a financial incentive for the city to keep them operating rather than eliminate them.
And let’s be honest about something else:
The city is already struggling to collect taxes from licensed cannabis businesses. According to reporting, licensed cannabis operators in Los Angeles collectively owe hundreds of millions in unpaid taxes and fees already.
So now we’re supposed to believe the city is suddenly going to successfully collect taxes from the illegal businesses too?
Please stand up.
I would much rather see money invested into actual enforcement:
Shutting down illegal dispensaries.
Helping legal operators survive.
Protecting neighborhoods.
Making sure products are tested and regulated.
And stopping the city from acting like illegal activity is just another untapped revenue stream.
Because if something is illegal, then act like it’s illegal.
About Jasmyne
Jasmyne Cannick is a political strategist who has worked in Congress, the California Legislature, and for multiple mayors and a City Council president. She is also a delegate in the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, which means yes — she actually reads this stuff.
Her voter guide is rooted in one simple question: how does this impact regular people? Especially poor and working-class people, Black communities, communities of color, renters, and folks already trying to survive in a city and state that keeps getting more expensive by the hour.
Known for her sharp analysis, side-eyes, and low tolerance for political nonsense, Jasmyne breaks down races, measures, and candidates with context, honesty, justice, and common sense — not vibes, celebrity endorsements, or campaign fluff.