Oregon Sold $160M In Recreational Weed So Far in 2016
Oregon marijuana dispensaries have sold more than $160 million worth of recreational marijuana so far in 2016. The Register-Guard reports that the nine month of sales so far have brought in $40.2 million in sales tax payments. That’s because state-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries charge a 25 percent sales tax to customers for recreational marijuana products.
The figures come weeks after the Oregon Liquor Control Commission licensed the first retailers in its recreational marijuana program. Those retailers charge a 17 percent state sales tax for all recreational marijuana products. Apparently, medical dispensaries must become licensed with the OLCC if they want to continue to sell recreational pot in 2017.
Department of Revenue officials still are waiting for some dispensaries to respond with quarterly tax returns from earlier in the year. Without the returns, the agency does not have details about which recreational marijuana products sold the most and produced the most sales tax money.
“We don’t have those ready yet,” Department of Revenue spokeswoman Joy Krawczyk said.
With nine states, including California, Arizona and Arkansas, approaching a marijuana measure next month, a recent poll by the Pew Research Center shows a growing majority of Americans support ending marijuana prohibition. The national survey of more than 1,200 U.S. adults found 57% think the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 53% last year and 32% in 2006. Just 37% think it should remain illegal, down from 44% last year and 60% in 2006.
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