Maine’s Senate has given approval to a measure that would exempt medical marijuana sales from being taxed.
According to its official summary, House Bill 541 “includes medical cannabis in the sales tax exemption that applies to medicines sold on a doctor’s prescription.”
The bipartisan bill was filed by State Representative Ann Fredericks with cosponsors Representatives David Boyer and Craig Hickman. The proposal was voted on by the House on May 4 in a closer than expected 76 to 62 vote, with 13 members absent. Today it was passed by the full Senate.
The measure will now be sent back to the House for a vote of concurrence. If the House passes the bill, it will be sent to Governor Janet Mills for consideration.
Under current Maine law, medical marijuana is taxed at 5.5%, with edibles receiving an additional excise tax of 8%. House Bill 541 would exempt patients from both of these taxes, similar to how other prescription drugs are distributed tax-free.
The full text of this two-page bill can be found by clicking here.
In Maine recreational marijuana is also legal. Data released by Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy shows that there was $16,289,077 in legal marijuana sold in April, which is roughly on part with the $16,622,537 in legal marijuana sales in March.
