House Panel Hears Bill To Tax Medical Pot Sales - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A House committee is holding a public hearing on a measure to tax medical marijuana dispensaries, an effort to undermine any black market when sale of state-taxed recreational marijuana starts at the end of this year.

The measure being heard Monday afternoon would hit dispensaries with a tax equal to 25% of their sales of cannabis and cannabis-infused products.

Under Initiative 502, passed by voters last fall, adults over 21 are allowed to have up to an ounce of pot. The state is due to start issuing licenses to marijuana growers, processors and retail stores, with the marijuana taxed 25% at each stage.

The state Liquor Control Board is still developing rules for the fledgling industry. Sales are set to begin late this year.

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