Daphne Prepares Medical Marijuana Dispensary Fee Ordinance Amid Licensing Halt
In the wake of the Alabama Medical Marijuana Commission’s award to RJK Holdings for one of the limited dispensary licenses, the city of Daphne, Alabama is gearing up to legislate an ordinance concerning the annual fees that medical marijuana dispensaries will have to bear. This development, however, is happening amidst a temporary restraining order from Judge James Anderson that has brought the licensing process to a standstill.
The Proposed Ordinance and its Implications
The Daphne finance committee has proposed creating a new category under the business license ordinance exclusively for medical marijuana dispensaries. The proposed fee structure, labeled ‘Schedule X,’ calls for an annual fee equivalent to 3% of gross sales, with a minimum fee set at $500. This implies that dispensaries are likely to pay significantly higher fees than other healthcare stores, mirroring their specialized nature.
City’s Stance on the Fee Structure
Mayor Robin LeJeune has stated that the city has chosen this fee structure over implementing an additional sales tax on the products sold by dispensaries. The city council is expected to cast their votes on the ordinance in their upcoming meeting, slated for January