Nevada marijuana officials are set to consider recommendations today that could lead to a major restructuring of the state’s marijuana tax system, including eliminating the 15% wholesale excise tax while potentially increasing the tax paid on retail purchases.
The Cannabis Advisory Commission’s Subcommittee on Taxation is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. today. According to the official agenda, members will discuss a draft report and recommendations before potentially voting to approve the report for submission to the full Cannabis Advisory Commission.
The review stems from legislation approved in 2025 requiring the commission to study possible changes to Nevada’s marijuana taxes. Among the options lawmakers specifically directed the panel to examine is eliminating the state’s 15% excise taxes on wholesale medical and recreational marijuana transactions while increasing the 10% excise tax currently imposed on adult-use retail sales.
The subcommittee is also required to consider imposing an excise tax on retail sales of consumable hemp products and other changes to the marijuana tax structure that would be at least revenue neutral to the State Education Fund.
In evaluating the proposals, the panel must consider their potential effect on retail marijuana prices, licensed businesses and consumers, the illicit marijuana market, the hemp industry and long-term funding for education.
Nevada collected approximately $43.7 million from its 15% wholesale marijuana excise tax during fiscal year 2024, while the state’s 10% retail marijuana excise tax generated approximately $76.8 million. About $107.8 million in marijuana tax revenue was distributed to the State Education Fund that fiscal year.
Any recommendations approved by the taxation subcommittee would still need to go before the full Cannabis Advisory Commission. State law requires the commission to submit its findings and any recommendations for legislation by October 5 to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue and the Legislative Counsel Bureau for consideration ahead of Nevada’s 2027 legislative session.
