New York Association Wants Higher Recreational Marijuana Sales Tax

Governor Cuomo has proposed a 2% sales tax on recreational marijuana purchases. The New York State Association of Counties wants to see that doubled to 4%. Three taxes would be placed on recreational marijuana, including cultivation taxes and sales to wholesalers.

The additional tax requested would aid counties in educating the public and providing other necessary services, according to North Country Now.  The idea behind the increased tax is to reduce the financial burdens on individual counties in regards to legal recreational marijuana. Law enforcement would need extra funds to ensure the roads are safe.

A news release issued by the association says, in part, “Under the existing legislation, counties would be expected to provide education, traffic safety enforcement, addiction services, and other programs that have been proven to reduce the adverse effects of other legal psychoactive substances (like alcohol), but with less funding to do so.”

Governor Cuomo included adult use provisions in the 2019-2020 executive state budget. New York is hoping to make recreational legalization possible through legislative process rather than voter referendum.