Cullman County voters will decide whether to impose a countywide 15% sales tax on medical marijuana products sold at future dispensaries in a local referendum on Nov. 5.

Proceeds from the proceeds will be split between the county’s legislative panel on mental health issues and the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office; The funds will initially be used to hire more staff.

“We had a backlog of cases, and the better and harder our staff worked, the more staff it took to forward the cases,” Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said.

A town hall was held Tuesday at Wallace State Community College to discuss the potential new tax. Many people spoke, some expressing fear that the additional 15% tax would make the drug too expensive and unavailable.

“This will make it impossible for some people to get their medication because the people who need it are suffering and dying and are often low-income. This will certainly deny them the compassion we promised when the bill was signed.” Amanda Taylor.

“This is for patients. This is not recreational. We don’t smoke pot on the street. That’s not the problem,” said Stephanie Fortner. “We are sick people who cannot leave the house without this medicine.”

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The 15% tax would be in addition to the 9% sales tax and the 9% tax mandated by the Alabama Medical Marijuana Commission. Total tax for medical marijuana in Cullman County is 33%.

“It will force me as a business owner to re-evaluate whether or not I should open a dispensary in Cullman County,” said Joey Robertson, president of Wagon Trial Med Serv.

A license was given to a business in the district, but this license is still in legal battles.

It’s been more than three years since Alabama lawmakers approved medical marijuana, and no dispensaries are open.