Hashish shoppers in Washington state might quickly be topic to a “dank tax.”
Lawmakers there have launched a invoice that may tax marijuana merchandise based mostly on the share of THC.
In different phrases: the stronger the weed, the upper the value.
“Analysis signifies that between 12 and 50% of psychotic issues might be prevented if excessive efficiency hashish merchandise weren’t out there,” mentioned Washington state Home Rep. Lauren Davis, one of many sponsors of the invoice, as quoted by local news station KXLY.
Davis believes that the measure is important to fight what she describes as a “disaster.”
“If we fail to behave now to counter the rising public well being disaster created by excessive efficiency hashish merchandise, we are going to quickly have one other epidemic on our fingers,” Davis added.
The laws, Home Invoice 1641, would restructure “the 37 p.c hashish excise tax to a tax of 37 p.c, 50 p.c, or 65 p.c of the promoting worth, based mostly on product sort and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) focus,” according to an official legislative summary of the measure.
“[Thirty-seven] p.c of the promoting worth on every retail sale of cannabis-infused merchandise, useable hashish with a THC focus lower than 35 p.c, and hashish concentrates with a THC focus lower than 35 p.c,” the summary read. “[Fifty] p.c of the promoting worth on every retail sale of hashish concentrates and useable hashish with a THC focus of 35 p.c or larger however lower than 60 p.c; and 65 p.c of the promoting worth on every retail sale of hashish concentrates and useable hashish with a THC focus larger than 60 p.c.”
HB 1641, which had its first public listening to final week, would additionally set up the next, per the legislative summary:
“Advertising and marketing and promoting prohibitions on promoting a product that accommodates larger than 35 p.c complete THC … Prohibits hashish shops from promoting a hashish product with larger than 35 p.c complete THC to an individual who’s below age 25 who shouldn’t be a qualifying affected person or designated supplier … Requires hashish retailers to offer point-of-sale info to shoppers who buy sure hashish merchandise and requires the Liquor and Hashish Board to develop non-compulsory coaching for retail employees … Requires necessary well being warning labels for hashish merchandise that comprise larger than 35 p.c complete THC … Requires hashish merchandise to be labeled with the variety of serving models of THC included within the package deal, and with an expression of a typical THC unit in quantity or quantity of product … Directs $1 million yearly from the Devoted Hashish Account for focused public well being messages and social advertising campaigns.”
Not everyone seems to be on board with the proposal, which has a dozen sponsors.
Carol Ehrhart, who owns a dispensary within the state, informed KXLY that the proposed tax improve might result in some hostile penalties.
“There’s this, you recognize, concept that the THC goes to get me additional alongside. The upper that we make these costs, the extra apt somebody is to purchase the upper priced merchandise as a result of they assume they’re getting extra bang for his or her buck after they’re actually not,” Ehrhart informed the station.
“A product that we’re promoting proper now for $40 that’s over the 60% threshold would go to $47, virtually $48. You understand, that’s seven or $8 in taxes on one piece of product,” Ehrhart added.
Washington turned one of many first two states to legalize leisure hashish in 2012, when voters there authorized a measure that legalized possession and paved the way in which for a regulated market. (Colorado additionally authorized a legalization measure the identical yr.)