Connecticut Lawmaker Is Attempting to Tax Medical Marijuana Sales

Representative Vincent Candelora wants to tax medical marijuana. His proposal, if passed, would impose a 6-percent tax on medical marijuana purchases. He is already facing opposition.

President of Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions, Tom Schultz, doesn’t think taxing medical marijuana is a good idea, according to WNPR. Shultz believes that another revenue source should be taxed as taxing medical marijuana would make it harder for patients to afford their medicine. He stated that there are only 17,000 patients in the state and they each pay roughly $250 annually for a medical exam and medical marijuana card.

Shultz said, “Now we’re talking about patients with diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis, and AIDS. And we’re talking about veterans with PTSD. We would not want to see anything done with this program that would tend to push those people back toward the black market.”

Candelora argued back regarding businesses profiting from medical marijuana.

Candelora said, “If the markups are so great, I just wonder if the dispensaries are able to absorb anything. Because it seems as if you know, the producers are the ones that put the bond out, that have the brick-and-mortar that is growing the material. The dispensaries are merely selling them.”

Connecticut medical marijuana patient Cody Roberts opposes the tax. He treats PTSD, nerve damage and anxiety. His costs weekly for medical marijuana in Connecticut are about $900.

Roberts had another idea, he said, “I beg you to please oppose HB 6551. Instead, let’s allow recreational use and cultivation rights for people of the age of 21 years or older.”

The tax dollars, if House Bill 6551 should pass, would go toward drug abuse treatment programs.