“Today’s votes show that hundreds want to be part one of Missouri’s newest and most successful industries.”
By Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent
After Tuesday’s election, where nearly all local sales tax measures were passed easily, marijuana will soon become more expensive in many municipalities throughout the state.
Many voters in the state were asked an additional question, asking them if they would like to increase the tax on marijuana and other products sold by dispensaries to recreational use. The measure passed in all cases except for a few.
Missouri, Columbia, and Kansas City voters approved their ballot questions. Jackson County, St. Louis County, and Boone County also approved them.
Greene County and Springfield are the most populous counties that didn’t have a marijuana tax on the ballot. In February, Greene County Commissioner Bob Dixon stated to KY3 that local officials had determined that a crowded ballot and a wait-and see approach to initial sales led to the decision not to vote.
The new tax passed 32 of 36 cities in St. Louis County where it was on ballot. It failed in Charlack Flordell Hills Northwoods, Velda and Northwoods. It passed in all 12 municipalities in Jackson County where it was on ballot, and in four smaller Boone County cities.
The Joplin Globe reported new taxes were authorized by voters in Jasper and Newton Counties, as well in a few municipalities within each county where they appeared on the ballot.
The 3 percent local tax comes in addition to the 6% state tax on recreational marijuana sales, which was authorized by Amendment 3 legalizing marijuana in November .
Sales made under 2018 medical use laws are exempt from local taxes. The state taxes medical marijuana sales at 4 percent.
These taxes are not included in general sales taxes or taxes that may be levied by the state or local governments.
In a statement released Tuesday night by Andrew Mullins, the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association stated that the high number of ballot measures passing was a sign that legal marijuana sales are being welcomed in Missouri. The association didn’t have a complete list of every location where ballot measures had been placed before voters.
Mullins stated that the first month of legal sales saw sales exceeding $100 million.
Mullins stated that Missouri’s adult marijuana program has already received national and international attention as being one of the most customer-friendly programs in the country. Today’s vote shows that hundreds of Missouri communities want to be a part of one the state’s newest, most successful industries.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones stated that the new revenue will be used to target areas where marijuana law enforcement had the greatest impact on economic opportunity and where capital is scarce. This statement was issued after the tax was passed by the city with nearly 63 percent.
Jones stated, “I am willing to continue working with the new board to utilize this funding to address historical wrongs in our community and strengthen neighborhoods throughout our city.”
Contrary to other local sales taxes, the constitution prohibits the stacking of city and county marijuana taxes. The county marijuana sales tax applies only to dispensaries located in unincorporated areas. It cannot be applied within the municipal boundaries.
“We have read it because they are not stackable,” Boone County Presidency Commissioner Kip Kendrick stated. “We are certain that the amendment’s authors intended it to not be stackable.”
Boone County has at least one dispensary that operates outside the boundaries of Boone County. Kendrick stated however, that the tax increase was placed on the ballot in order to have it in effect at the same time as it was added to the municipalities.
Kendrick stated, “We felt it was important that everything appear on the ballot together with other municipalities and while Amendment 3 is still fresh in everybody’s minds,”
Missouri Independent published this story for the first time.
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The post Missouri Voters Approve Local Marijuana Ballot Measures was first published on Marijuana Moment.
