Stock Daily Dish reports….
Medicinal marijuana users in Montana face a 6 percent tax on their purchases if lawmakers approve a proposal that would help bolster the state budget. Reports local media.
The tax, which was under discussion in the House Taxation Committee on Wednesday, could raise about $1.1 million a year. The bulk of the money would end up in the state‘s unrestricted general fund. About $100,000 would be used for an armored car and security guard who would go from dispensary to dispensary to collect taxes because marijuana dispensaries are generally an all-cash business.
Opponents urged lawmakers to reject the proposed tax, saying it would be a hardship on many of the nearly 12,000 registered medical marijuana users in Montana.
Last fall, voters again approved a measure legalizing medicinal marijuana — after an earlier voter-approved law was gutted by lawmakers and was mired in legal limbo.
The proposed sales tax is one of two marijuana-related revenue measures still wending their way through the Montana Legislature. The other proposal would place a 2 percent levy on marijuana producers.
The sales tax proposal is one of several “revenue enhancers” being carried in the Legislature on behalf of Gov. Steve Bullock to help infuse money Democrats hope will offset declines in revenues from fuel taxes.
Bullock has proposed taxes on wine and establishing a new higher tax bracket for the state‘s wealthiest.
“Gov. Bullock‘s fair and modest revenue enhancers deserve thoughtful consideration in order to fund essential services for Montana seniors, children, and college students,” said his spokesman Ronja Abel.
Read full article: https://stockdailydish.com/montana-lawmakers-consider-sales-tax-on-medicinal-marijuana/
