Title
Resolution to Commit Marijuana Excise Tax Rebate Funds
Body
Whereas, Federal laws related to cannabis/marijuana have disproportionately targeted people of color, disadvantaged communities of color, and people of lower socio-economic status;
Whereas, Public policy around cannabis/marijuana has systematically and punitively impacted generations of individuals in terms of public housing and student financial aid eligibility, employment opportunities, child custody determinations, and immigration status;
Whereas, Ann Arbor City Council voted on October 7, 2019, to adopt the State of Michigan's Proposal A, effectively legalizing and regulating the sale of marijuana for recreational adult-use in the City of Ann Arbor;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes that legalization of cannabis/marijuana represents progress in the present and moving forward, but does not address or alleviate past harm;
Whereas, In its adoption of Proposal A, City Council acknowledged how the state's new regulatory framework for the marijuana industry includes many financial barriers to entry which are likely to exclude the people previously harmed by marijuana arrests and prosecutions;
Whereas, The State of Michigan has collected a total of $45.7 million from the 10% adult-use marijuana excise tax in the year 2020;
Whereas, This year, the State of Michigan will be returning $476,023 in marijuana excise tax to the City of Ann Arbor, for allowing the sale of recreational marijuana;
Whereas, These funds are returned unencumbered and can be used for whatever purpose the City of Ann Arbor chooses;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor aims to direct these marijuana excise tax funds in a way that intentionally reinvests in our community, acknowledges the past harm of criminalization, and supports populations disproportionately and negatively impacted by the "War on Drugs"; and
Whereas, Demonstrated needs exist in our community for additional funding in the areas of providing Mental Hea...
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