In the New Year some Oregon cities and counties will be collecting local taxes on recreational marijuana. This voter-approved 3% percent tax is in addition to the state’s 17% retail pot tax that also takes effect on January 1st.
In the New Year, recreational pot will be sold at licensed marijuana retailers instead of by medical dispensaries. The state tax will go down from 25% to 17 and, in cities including Eugene; a 3% local tax will also be collected. Sue Cutsogeorge is Eugene’s Finance Director.
“City council discussed how to use the revenues from the local marijuana tax and they decided that there should be 3 specific purposes that the dollars would go towards: the community court program, human services and public safety in city parks.”
The city expects between 200 and 600-thousand dollars will be generated annually from the local tax. Lane County, Springfield, Cottage Grove and Florence have also instituted local pot taxes.
http://www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/Pages/Recreational-Marijuana-Laws-and-Rules.aspx
http://www.eugene-or.gov/3451/City-Marijuana-Tax
