Pot bill needs fixing

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh raises a good point when he bemoans the stingy 3 percent sales tax localities will be able to collect on the sale of recreational marijuana at pot shops that will be springing up around the state.

Interviewed yesterday on Boston Herald Radio — and in the presence of Senate President Stan Rosenberg, who supported the paltry 3 percent local levy — Walsh said, “I think the taxes should be higher and I think more money should come back to cities and towns. We’re the ones who are going to have the burden.”

There’s certainly no disputing that. Nor the fact that cities and towns that agree to host pot shops might need a bit more of an incentive to do so.

Rosenberg pointed out that in addition to the 17 percent in state taxes on marijuana sales and the 3 percent local option there was more “good news” for communities — they could negotiate with pot shops for an additional “impact fee” of up to 3 percent.

Like much of what came out of this Beacon Hill hodge podge that passes for compromise, the local option tax and “fee” needs to be fixed — once it hits the governor’s desk, likely today.

Communities shouldn’t be in the business of negotiating with pot shops. They should be entitled to a flat tax and 6 percent sounds about right. Gov. Charlie Baker should send this one back to lawmakers with an amendment to do just that — along with one to fix the bizarre and legally disputable opt-out provisions (that create two classes of communities) and avoid a protracted legal battle along the way.