Ohio Senate Bill 56 Seeks to Increase Sales Tax on Recreational Marijuana and Limit Home-Grown Plants
Ohio lawmakers are considering a proposal to increase the excise sales tax on recreational marijuana from 10% to 15%. The bill, known as Senate Bill 56, would also limit the number of home-grown marijuana plants per household.
Darius Walters, owner of Nar Reserve, a dispensary in Columbus, expressed concerns about the potential impact of a higher tax on his business. “It would be ridiculous to not pay attention to what’s going on with our board and how it affects our business,” he said. Walters believes that a higher tax would drive customers to seek out medicinal marijuana instead, which is cheaper to obtain with a medical card.
The tax revenue from recreational sales is currently allocated to four different categories, including the cannabis social equity and jobs fund. However, Senate Bill 56 aims to eliminate this fund, which supports social equity and job initiatives.
The bill would also limit the number of home-grown marijuana plants per household, reducing the current limit of 12 plants for households with two people to six plants per household.
Despite his concerns, Walters remains optimistic about the potential benefits of marijuana sales in Ohio. “The money will help the community once it gets allocated and designated for the specific categories,” he said.
The full text of Senate Bill 56 can be accessed online.
