Located in Canton’s central retail district, a unique weed dispensary is gearing up for its grand opening. Besides a bustling city, The Forest offers a serene and welcoming environment for those seeking safe, legal cannabis.
“I wanted it to feel like nature,” said owner Christina Betancourt-Johnson, “It’s peaceful.”
But with the state now considering a cannabis sales tax hike, from 9% to 12%, Betancourt-Johnson fears her budding business could be at risk before it even has a chance to grow.
“For us, the sales tax increase proposal is really about safety,” she said.
In addition to burning through profits, Betancourt-Johnson says her biggest concern is higher prices pushing customers back to the black market. She argues the general assembly intentionally set the original tax low in an effort to eliminate illegal weed sales.
“We’ve got a good tax rate before us. We’ve seen what can happen in other markets where consumers go to alternative purchasing options,” she said.
She’s referring to states like California and Colorado, which have a 15% excise tax, in addition to sales tax and varying local fees. Both are now grappling with lower-than-expected state revenues and booming black markets.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Rebecca Pryor over at WJLA News Channel 7
