Alaska’s Cannabis Tax, New York’s Overdose Prevention, Possible Product Contamination In Arizona & More
Alaska: House Sends Cannabis Tax Measure To Senate
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Friday in favor of House Bill 119 – a cannabis tax measure, reported Alaska Beacon. The measure was approved in a 36-3 vote.
If the bill passes the Senate and gets Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (R) signature it would create the state’s first statewide sales tax, changing the current $50 per ounce marijuana tax to a 7% sales tax.
Ryan Tunseth, president of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association, said he was pleased to see the bill pass the House, even with a tax rate higher than preferred by the industry. Tunseth added he would question cannabis businesses for their opinions on the current version of the bill.
The original recommendation in the bill was to impose a 3% sales tax, but that was deemed too low to get further legislative support, so a 10% was proposed, and later was lowered to 6%. On the House floor, an amendment raised it to 7%.
Rep. Jesse Sumner (R) believes that higher taxes will make it more likely for the bill to pass the Senate.
See Also: Cannabis Investors Scammed: Thousands Lost In Bogus Resort Scheme In Remote Alaskan Village
New York: Senate Committee Approves Bill To Establish Overdose Prevention Center Program
The Senate Health Committee approved legislation that would establish a statewide overdose prevention center pilot program in New York. The committee members passed the bill, S.339, from Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D) last week in a 7-6 vote.
In 2021, New York City became the first in the …