Kansas City Metro Area Approves Additional 3% Tax On Adult-Use Weed Sales

In Tuesday's local elections, residents across Kansas City, Missouri approved an extra 3% sales tax on recreational cannabis. The additional tax comes on top of basic state and local sales taxes and a 6% recreational cannabis tax. The new taxes won’t impact medical marijuana sales.

Cities in the area and the state voted for the proposal, with the tax easily passing in both urban and rural areas, reported Kansas City Star. In Kansas City, for example, the tax proposal was approved by more than 70% of voters. Other cities that said yes to the increase include Columbia, Joplin, and St. Louis, per early results, as well as counties – Jackson and Cass County.

It is important to highlight that the question of whether cities and counties can impose cannabis taxes at the same time will likely be resolved by the courts.

Cannabis In Missouri

Adult-use marijuana sales began in early February, some three months after voters approved Amendment 3. Since then, the number of licenses approved for new employees each month has surged.

In November, the Department of Health and Human Services approved 264 badges and over 1,100 in January and February, reported Missouri Independent.

During the first three days of recreational weed sales in February, pot shops sold some $12.7 million worth of products, while in the first month, officials reported more than $100 million in sales.

With sales booming, there’s no doubt that new taxes will benefit cities across the area.

Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Nataliya Vaitkevich and RODNAE Productions on Pexels