Washington Lawmakers Propose Raising Taxes on Higher Potency Weed

You know, that’s seven or $8 in taxes on one piece of product,” Ehrhart added. Cannabis consumers in Washington state may soon be subject to a “dank tax.”  Lawmakers there have introduced a bill that would tax marijuana products based on the percentage of THC. In other words: the stronger the weed, the higher the price. “Research indicates that between 12 and 50% of psychotic disorders could be prevented if high potency cannabis products were not available,” said Washington state House Rep. Washington became one of the first two states to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012, when voters there approved a measure that legalized possession and paved the way for a regulated market. (Colorado also approved a legalization measure the same year.) Lauren Davis, one of the sponsors of the bill, as quoted by local news station KXLY. Davis believes that the measure is necessary to combat what she describes as a “crisis.” “If we fail to act now to counter the emerging public health crisis created by high potency cannabis products, we will soon have another epidemic on our hands,” Davis added. Carol Ehrhart, who owns a dispensary in the state, told KXLY that the proposed tax increase could lead to some adverse consequences.  “There’s this, you know, idea that the THC is going to get me further along.