Ohio Senate Bill 56 Proposes Higher Sales Tax on Recreational Marijuana
A new bill in the Ohio Senate aims to increase the excise sales tax on recreational marijuana from 10% to 15%. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 56, also seeks to limit the number of home-grown marijuana plants per household. Currently, households with two people can grow up to 12 plants, but the bill would cap this at six plants per household.
Darius Walters, a dispensary owner in Columbus, expressed concerns about the potential impact of a higher tax on his business. He believes that customers may turn to the medicinal side of marijuana sales if the tax increases, as it is cheaper to obtain a medicinal 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 seeks to eliminate this fund, which is used to support social equity and job initiatives.
Despite his reservations about the tax increase, Walters remains optimistic about the benefits of marijuana sales in Ohio. He believes that the revenue generated will ultimately benefit the community once it is allocated to specific categories.
The full text of Senate Bill 56 can be accessed online.
