Missouri’s Highest Court Rules in Favor of Marijuana Advocates, Prohibiting Local Governments from Imposing Additional Taxes
In a significant victory for marijuana advocates, the Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that local governments cannot impose additional taxes on marijuana sales. The court’s 6-1 decision upholds the original intent of voters who approved the 3% tax on marijuana sales.
According to Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, the ruling ensures that Missouri cannabis customers are protected from being overcharged. “The courts have upheld what voters were voting on here,” he said.
The decision reverses a previous interpretation that allowed counties to collect taxes in incorporated areas, in addition to incorporated municipalities. Under the new ruling, an incorporated village, town, or city can impose a 3% tax on marijuana sales within its jurisdiction, while counties can only impose a 3% tax on sales in unincorporated areas.
Attorney Eric Walter, who represented a St. Louis County dispensary in the lawsuit, argued that the Missouri Constitution was designed to prevent double taxation. “The primary argument was that in the Constitution, it was designed and crafted so that there would be just a single local government,” he said.
The ruling is seen as a major win for marijuana advocates, who had been pushing for a fair and transparent tax system. The decision will help ensure that Missouri cannabis customers are not overcharged and that local governments are held accountable for their taxes.
