North Branford Lawmaker Wants Tax On Medical Marijuana

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — A state representative’s proposed bill to tax medical marijuana didn’t get a lot of support at a recent public hearing on the matter at the state capitol.

Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-86th) is proposing a bill that would impose a 6 percent tax on the state’s 17,000 medical marijuana users. Candelora represents Durham, Guilford, North Branford and Wallingford.

His proposal was the subject of a hearing held by the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. One of those who implored the committee to not impose the tax was Tom Schulz, the president of the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions, a licensed medical marijuana producer.

Schultz said the medical marijuana program now services more than 17,000 patients in Connecticut and he told the committee that he worries if taxes are applied it might “push people back to the black market” to buy marijuana.

Candelora told Schultz he was “sympathetic to the issue of drug costs” but he also wondered if the medical marijuana program is so successful whether more of the costs could be paid by those profiting off the program.

Schultz said currently each medical marijuana producer pays the state $75,000 for a license. Each dispensary pays $5,000. Candelora wondered if more of the costs could be picked up on the dispensary end.

“We monitor the producers pretty heavily,” Candelora said. “Are dispensaries monitored” at the same level,” he wondered. Schultz said he didn’t disagree with Candelora’s assessment.

Currently Connecticut medical pot patients already pay $100 annually for the program and typically $150 for an annual medical appointment to be certified eligible.

“Applying a 6 percent surcharge to medical marijuana will simply add to the $250 that our patients have already spent,” Schultz said.

The average patient is purchasing 2.5 ounces which costs about $200 to $400 per month, Schultz said.

Patch file photo

— By Jack Kramer, Patch Correspondent