$GPFT The Latest: Coalition asks Calif. governor to cut tax on pot
Posted: April 29, 2020
Updated: 5:15 PM AP
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
TOP OF THE HOUR:
— Germany experts say vaccine, herd immunity vital.
— US to let federal social distancing guidelines expire.
— Britain’s death toll jumps over 26,000 with nursing home deaths.
— As lockdowns ease, health officials urge virus vigilance.
___
LOS ANGELES — A coalition of marijuana companies, churches and advocacy groups is asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a temporary cut in the state’s hefty pot taxes.
The group that includes the California State Conference of the NAACP, Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches and the industry group Southern California Coalition warned in a letter to the governor that the coronavirus crisis and a crashing economy will take an especially heavy toll on businesses run by minorities who were disproportionately targeted during the decades-long drug war.
“If action is not taken now many of our business colleagues and friends may be pushed into the gray, or worse, back into the illicit market,” said the letter, dated April 23.
“At a time where unemployment is at a record high, the legal industry is seeing its customers flock to lower priced cannabis products in the illegal market regardless of quality or safety,” the group said.
“As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact communities of color, our social equity businesses and our customers will be impacted even more,” the group warned.
California kicked off broad legal sales in 2018. But the state’s legal marijuana industry has long blamed tax rates that can approach 50% in some areas for driving business into the illicit market. According to some estimates, consumers are spending roughly $3 in the state’s underground pot economy for every $1 in the legal one.
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PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has extended his stay-at-home order through May 15, but he is partially ending his order closing non-essential businesses.
The Republican governor says the spread of the coronavirus appears to have slowed in the state, but there’s no clear sign deaths and new cases are trending down.
He’s allowing some retail businesses to open next Monday, with more openings by the end of next week. He’s expecting restaurants to be allowed to partially reopen in about two weeks, but hasn’t yet made that official.
The governor praised the public and business community for adhering to his stay-home and closure orders, saying they saved lives.
___
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Gov. Mark Gordon says Wyoming will ease some of its coronavirus restrictions on Friday, with barbershops, gyms, nail salons and child care centers among the businesses that will be allowed limited re-openings.
The changes replace health orders that are set to expire Thursday. They are the first steps in the Republican governor’s plan to restart the state economy.
Gordon also says Wyoming residents would be allowed to camp at state parks starting May 15.
___
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Residents on the Navajo Nation will be under another lockdown this weekend as the tribe seeks to keep the coronavirus from spreading even further into communities.
The lockdown is the fourth the tribe has implemented. It comes around the first of the month when tribal members often travel to towns bordering the reservation to shop for food and other supplies.
Tribal officials say they are working with businesses on the reservation to create safeguards f
Posted: April 29, 2020
Updated: 5:15 PM AP
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
TOP OF THE HOUR:
— Germany experts say vaccine, herd immunity vital.
— US to let federal social distancing guidelines expire.
— Britain’s death toll jumps over 26,000 with nursing home deaths.
— As lockdowns ease, health officials urge virus vigilance.
___
LOS ANGELES — A coalition of marijuana companies, churches and advocacy groups is asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a temporary cut in the state’s hefty pot taxes.
The group that includes the California State Conference of the NAACP, Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches and the industry group Southern California Coalition warned in a letter to the governor that the coronavirus crisis and a crashing economy will take an especially heavy toll on businesses run by minorities who were disproportionately targeted during the decades-long drug war.
“If action is not taken now many of our business colleagues and friends may be pushed into the gray, or worse, back into the illicit market,” said the letter, dated April 23.
“At a time where unemployment is at a record high, the legal industry is seeing its customers flock to lower priced cannabis products in the illegal market regardless of quality or safety,” the group said.
“As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact communities of color, our social equity businesses and our customers will be impacted even more,” the group warned.
California kicked off broad legal sales in 2018. But the state’s legal marijuana industry has long blamed tax rates that can approach 50% in some areas for driving business into the illicit market. According to some estimates, consumers are spending roughly $3 in the state’s underground pot economy for every $1 in the legal one.
___
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has extended his stay-at-home order through May 15, but he is partially ending his order closing non-essential businesses.
The Republican governor says the spread of the coronavirus appears to have slowed in the state, but there’s no clear sign deaths and new cases are trending down.
He’s allowing some retail businesses to open next Monday, with more openings by the end of next week. He’s expecting restaurants to be allowed to partially reopen in about two weeks, but hasn’t yet made that official.
The governor praised the public and business community for adhering to his stay-home and closure orders, saying they saved lives.
___
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Gov. Mark Gordon says Wyoming will ease some of its coronavirus restrictions on Friday, with barbershops, gyms, nail salons and child care centers among the businesses that will be allowed limited re-openings.
The changes replace health orders that are set to expire Thursday. They are the first steps in the Republican governor’s plan to restart the state economy.
Gordon also says Wyoming residents would be allowed to camp at state parks starting May 15.
___
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Residents on the Navajo Nation will be under another lockdown this weekend as the tribe seeks to keep the coronavirus from spreading even further into communities.
The lockdown is the fourth the tribe has implemented. It comes around the first of the month when tribal members often travel to towns bordering the reservation to shop for food and other supplies.
Tribal officials say they are working with businesses on the reservation to create safeguards f
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