I agree with Blumenauer on many issues and appreciate his progressive bent....but he is so wrong here. We passed legal marijuana on the basis that it would be taxed and regulated. OR already has a lower tax rate than WA or CO and taxes are needed to maintain proper regulation and ensure that marijuana businesses stay in the bounds.  He brings up alcohol as a model, but the city doesn't have the resources to address alcohol related problems within the city and this is partially because the state prohibits any local alcohol taxes.  Alcohol is a model of why local taxes are needed. Legal marijuana will have an impact on the city resources and a tax is needed to ensure it is a strong program. Also, if MJ is like alcohol a higher tax has been shown to have a significant public health benefit.