Plan to put growing pot on SF ballot

San Francisco voters may get a chance to weigh in on whether the city should tax and regulate the growing and selling of marijuana. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi on Tuesday proposed a June ballot measure that would make it official city policy to "license, regulate and tax the cultivation and sale of cannabis" - whether for medicinal or recreational use.

"It's time that we have a regulating system in place," said Mirkarimi, who still must secure Board of Supervisors' support to put his proposal to voters. Regulations, he said, could address such issues as where the pot could be grown, in what quantities and what safeguards are needed to limit the risk of fire.

Mirkarimi said that on the question of taxation, San Francisco could not move forward without state authorization. California voters may take up that issue in November. However, Mirkarimi said he believes the city can unilaterally tackle the matter of cultivation.