Dexter voters will be asked April 4 if the city should place a sales tax on non-medical marijuana sales.
The 3% tax would not impact medical marijuana sales, Dexter city attorney Yewell “Bud” Lawrence said.
Lawrence further said the door was opened for the city to do this with voters legalizing non-medical marijuana in November.
Lawrence also said this would allow any retailer selling non-medical marijuana to be taxed as others already in the city.
The ballot language will read: Shall the City of Dexter, Missouri, impose a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales of adult non-medical marijuana sold in the City of Dexter, Missouri?
The Cape Girardeau County Commission has also moved to hold a public hearing this month with an eye toward getting a referendum authorizing such a tax before voters on the April 4 ballot.
Proposition 3 authorizes a 6% state sales tax on recreational marijuana sales and allows for county and municipal governments to seek up to 3% in a local levy — in essence a use tax.
Officials with the city of Poplar Bluff and Butler County have not put forward any similar initiatives. Information was not available as of press time if either entity will pursue similar sales tax measures.
Of note
• Proposition 3, the Marijuana Legislation Initiative, was OK’d by 53% of state voters Nov. 8.
• It was voted down by approximately 59% of voters in Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Ripley, Reynolds, Stoddard and Wayne counties.
• In 2018, 65% of state voters approved the sale of medical marijuana.
• Marijuana remains officially illegal at the federal government level.