What is this bill about?
In the current state budget, revenues from cannabis taxes provide funding for child care for 21,486 low-income children. The allocation from Prop 64 revenues in the current year state budget for child care is $279 million. This revenue represents the only dedicated state funding stream for child care for low-income families in our state. Even with these funds, we are far below meeting the need for affordable child care. About 2.3 million children are eligible for subsidized child care yet we are currently meeting the needs of only 11% of eligible children. Any changes to cannabis tax rates that are not revenue neutral will result in children and families of color losing access to affordable child care.
In addition to the essential role that cannabis revenues play in affordable child care, cannabis revenues are a primary funder of youth prevention services and other supports in communities of color heavily impacted by the War on Drugs.
How does it align with yli’s values?
As youth advocates, yli supports this legislation because the changes the legislation proposes to make to state cannabis tax rates are revenue neutral and will not affect critical funding streams that support children, youth and families in California. Many of our young people – the majority of whom are youth of color – have been profoundly impacted by the “War on Drugs.” A great number of our programs are focused on “prevention,” which addresses the environmental conditions (e.g., the density of liquor stores in a neighborhood and predatory marketing) that influence substance use among youth.
What is yli doing about it?
We have just signed this letter of endorsement, and we are voicing our support on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.