Oregon State House Sneaks In Sales Tax
The blog on taxrates.com announced “Anti-Sales Tax Oregon Embraces Marijuana Tax” referring to Oregon’s new state sales tax in HB2041 on all marijuana leaves, flowers, immature plants, and cannabinoid products initially at 25% and then at 17% with allowances for local jurisdictions to add another 3% sales tax. It was largely without fanfare passing in the House on June 25th (43 aye-15 nay) and in the Senate June 30th (24 aye-4 nay) before being prepped for Governor Kate Brown’s signature. Was the bill rushed at the end of the session? Where are the large headline news articles?
So why should anyone who does not plan to spend much money on weed care what sort of tax is on it? Presumably, anyone planning to spend a lot is just too happy that it is finally legal to even notice what form of tax is on it. After all, Measure 91 to legalize marijuana passed by a handy margin, and it included a growers' tax and a privilege tax on retailers. We’ve had an excise tax on cigarettes for years. Why fuss?
