If this bill comes to pass, it would legalize marijuana for adults aged 21 and older, and also “enact a 20% state tax on the sale [of marijuana], and municipalities would be able to enact another 3% tax,” according to local news station WSOC.
Per the station, the tax revenue from marijuana sales would be divided up as follows: “25% to a Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund created by the bill; 10% to a Social Equity Fund created by the bill; 3% to a Cannabis Education and Technical Assistance Fund created by the bill; 7% to the Department of Health and Human Services for evidence-based, voluntary programs for substance abuse treatment or prevention; 2% to the DHHS for a public education campaign for youth and adults about the health and safety risks of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other substances, including driving while impaired; 2% to the DHHS for cannabis research.
Up to 1% to the Department of Public Safety for advanced impaired driving enforcement and drug recognition training; The remaining 50% of the tax revenue would go to the general fund.”
The bill also provides for individuals to have previous pot-related convictions removed from their records.
Photo by Kym
