Local medical marijuana measure failing early in the polls on election day

KERN COUNTY, Calif. — Local medical marijuana measures E and D declined early in the polls Tuesday as Kern County voted a majority "No".

With more than half the districts reporting, polls reported 34,784 (60%) votes "No" for Measure D and 33,383 (58%) "No" for Measure E.

Each measures calls for the legalization of medical marijuana dispensaries and impose a business tax here in Kern County. But each measure has a different stances on the regulations of the business.

Measure D was put on the ballot by a citizen's initiative and authorizes medical marijuana dispensaries to operate without ministerial use permit in the county while imposing a 3.75% special business tax per every $1,000 of gross income.

Measure E was put on the ballot through a vote of the Kern County Board of Supervisors as an alternative. Measure E authorizes medical marijuana dispensaries to operate with a conditional use permit in the county and imposing a 3.5% special business tax per every $1,000 of gross income.