On Wednesday, the Portland City Council will consider referring to voters a 3% tax on recreational marijuana. The money raised would go towards drug and alcohol treatment, public safety, and support for small businesses.

The current state tax on recreational marijuana sales is 25%. Beginning January 1, that will drop to 20%, but cities and counties have the option of enacting a 3% local tax. But it must be approved by voters.

If the city council refers it to voters, it will be on the November 2016 ballot.

Commissioner Amanda Fritz proposed the tax. She says it would raise $3 million per year and the ballot measure would ensure the money doesn’t go into the general fund.

“There’ll be a robust conversation at council about, are these the right items to dedicate it to? There’s been some suggestions to not dedicate it at all or to put it to something that’s not related to marijuana use, and I think the taxes work best when there’s a clear nexus between the people who pay and the people who benefit and to make sure that that’s fair,” says Fritz. [Read more at KOIN.com]