Lawmakers Prepare Overhaul Of Recreational Marijuana Bill

BOSTON (CBS) — State lawmakers are poised to unveil a new bill on recreational marijuana that proposes significant changes from what voters agreed upon last year. The bill includes a 16 percent tax increase on pot, making a total tax of 28 percent. Read An Outline Of The New Bill The legislation was met with controversy from the beginning, as many towns and cities did not want cannabis or pot shops in their communities. The revised bill would give them the option to vote against pot shops through council meetings. The current law requires a referendum to block such shops. The Marijuana Policy Committee will vote at noon to recommend the bill to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The overhaul isn’t sitting well with those who voted for recreational marijuana in last November’s referendum with very specific guidelines in mind. Jim Borghesani of the group Yes on 4, which worked to get the law passed by voters, said raising the tax is unnecessary. “The committee took a bill that was a strong bill, well written, that learned from other states that have gone before, and they’ve weakened it,” said Borghesani. The revised marijuana bill amounts to a 28% tax increase: State Sales Tax 6.25% State Pot Tax 16.75% City/Town Tax 5.00%#WBZ — Nicole Jacobs (@NicoleJacobsWBZ) June 14, 2017   He also said it would give drug dealers the ability to stay in business–where their intent was to drive them out of business. “They...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Heard On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Local Syndicated Local Watch Listen Ben Parker Marijuana Nicole Jacobs Recreational Marijuana Source Type: news