San Diego is looking to copy what other large Californian cities are doing, adding an additional tax to marijuana sales.

If voters approve the initiative brought forward in November, San Diego residents will have to pay an additional tax on their cannabis. Currently the city charges a 8 percent tax for marijuana sales, but that could soon rise even higher. This raises concerns for locals who believe that this additional tax could fuel the black market production of marijuana.

If the bill to legalize recreational use of marijuana is passed in November it will impose a 15 percent tax, bringing San Diego’s total tax to 31 percent.

Proponents on both sides of the argument are speaking out about the excessive tax, but the city believes this will beneficial to their bottom line.

More from the San Diego Union Tribune.

“Many other California cities are adopting similar taxes on the sale of cannabis in anticipation of the use of recreational marijuana being approved statewide by voters in November,” she said. “I believe this is a common sense proposal that will benefit San Diego by generating additional tax revenue that can be used for major city needs such as public safety and infrastructure.”

Other cities with local marijuana taxes include Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Long Beach, Berkeley, Palm Springs and several smaller cities. San Jose’s tax generated $17 million between 2011 and 2015. San Diego would be the first city in the county to take this step.

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