City, County Look To Cash In On Potential Cannabis Sales

Voters across Crawford County and in the city of Bourbon will decide April 4 whether to implement a sales tax on recreational marijuana.

While there are no dispensaries operating within the county or city, both entities are looking to get ahead when that day comes.

Recreational marijuana became legal with the passage of Amendment 3 in 2022 and sales began in February.

Marijuana business is booming in the Show-Me State as sales topped $71 million in February.

More than $31 million in medical marijuana was recorded.

Amendment 3 gave counties and municipalities the option of implementing 3 percent sales taxes.

The Crawford County Commission and Bourbon City Council are both seeking that 3 percent tax for their respective entities.

More than 100 municipalities and 70 of Missouri’s 114 counties are putting the tax up for votes on April 4.

Amendment 3 authorized a 6 percent state sales tax, but there is question if county and municipal sales taxes can be stacked, which would raise the tax to 12 percent.

According to the Columbia Missourian, the Missouri Department of Revenue is not taking sides on whether the taxes can be stacked.

Columbia attorney Dan Viets, who co-wrote the amendment, told the Missourian the provisions “make it clear the city and county taxes can’t be stacked.”

Viets also told the Missourian the amendment is “vague.”

DOR said there is “validity” to stacking the taxes because the taxation portion of Article XIV does not contain single-entity restrictions.

Courts could be where the issue of stacking taxes is decided.