Commissioners To Add Cannabis Tax To Ballot
Roosevelt County commissioners Gary Macdonald and Gordon Oelkers told the Northern Plains
Independent that a special meeting scheduled for March 14 will consider adding taxation to marijuana sales in the area.
The sole agenda item for the meeting: “Approval of Resolutions 2022-24,” which are a pair of resolutions presenting to qualified electors of Roosevelt County the question of a 3 percent local-option marijuana excise tax pursuant to HB701.
Oelkers said that the resolutions presented will take two forms, one for a proposed 3 percent tax of medical marijuana and another to add a tax to recreational sales. The commissioners said they intend to stipulate that revenues will go toward the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office budget and the budget for health and mental health services.
“The impact is here,” said Oelkers. “The tax money will help with that impact.”
Oelkers and Macdonald said that time is a factor, with a deadline pending for collection of revenues for the next year.
The March 14 meeting will consider adding the issue to a ballot for local voters in June. They will be asked to decide on the tax question separately for recreational and medical providers.
If passed by voters, the revenues generated will be split three ways between the county, all area municipalities like Wolf Point, Poplar and Culbertson and the state. The county would keep 50 percent of revenues raised, with 45 percent going to municipalities and five percent slated for administration costs at the state level.
The meeting is set to begin at 10 a.m. External access is available by calling 406-653-6100 and entering the PIN 6100. For more information, call 406-653-6246.
