Since the very first medical cannabis sale in October 2020 to this very morning in the Missouri Supreme Court, our industry has unequivocally stood up for our patients and adult use customers. This morning seven Missouri Supreme Court Judges heard arguments from an attorney representing our industry and Robust/Feel State Dispensaries about why dozens of counties who are currently charging a 3% sales tax on adult use purchases inside the city limits of a municipality are violating the voter-approved Missouri Constitution. Read a recap here:
In November, the Eastern District Court of Appeals ruled in our favor and agreed that a plain reading of Article 14 allows municipalities to charge a 3% adult use sales tax on sales inside the city limits and allows counties to do the same for sales taking place only in unincorporated areas. As expected, this constitutional question now lies with the Missouri Supreme Court.
According to attorney Eric Walter, the judges were well prepared and asked especially insightful questions from the bench. Throughout his oral argument Walter continued to return to the very definition of “local government” approved by voters in Article 14 of Missouri’s Constitution.
If the Supreme Court agrees with the appellate court, the litigation could save Missouri customers approximately $3 million each and every month. There is no time limits for the Missouri Supreme Court to rule in this case. However, here are the following dates that they may be issuing opinions the rest of this year: May 27, June 10, July 1, July 22, Aug. 19, Sep. 2, Sep. 30, Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Nov. 25, Dec. 9 and Dec. 23.
A video of today’s Supreme Court arguments can be viewed here: https://www.courts.mo.gov/
