Politics & Government

State to Tax Medical Marijuana

The sales and use tax exemption for prescription medicine will not apply, according to the state Department of Revenue Services.

 

You had to know that this was coming.

With the passage of the legalization of the sale of medical marijuana, the state Department of Revenue Services has now released guidelines on how those sales will be taxes.

Find out what's happening in New Canaanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Sales of marijuana by licensed dispensaries will be subject to sales and use taxes; the sales and use tax exemption for prescription medicine will not apply,” the department says in its special notice.

That means all medical marijuana sales will be subject to the state's 6.35 percent sales tax, CT News Junkie reports. But even illegal sales of pot are subject to that tax, the news website says -- that's been a law since 1991.

Find out what's happening in New Canaanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Gov. Dannel Malloy signed the bill into law in June legalizing the sale of marijuana for medical uses after a lengthy debate as to the advantages of using the drug to treat conditions such as glaucoma. 

On Oct. 1, the law went into effect and a system of online registration was established for those eligible to purchase it legally. Malloy said he wants to make sure that only those truly qualify for it are able to get it.

The new law also opened up entrepreneruial opportunities for those interested in growing the medical marijuana, prompting the formation of the Connecticut Medical Cannabis Business Alliance.


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