Located in Canton's central retail district, a unique weed dispensary is gearing up for its grand opening. Besides a bustling city, The Forest offers a serene and welcoming environment for those seeking safe, legal cannabis.
But with the state now considering a cannabis sales tax hike, from 9% to 12%, business owners now fear their businesses could be at risk before they even have a chance to grow.
According to revenue reports from the Comptroller's office, in Maryland's first 12 months following legalization, the state collected about $64 million in cannabis sales tax.
In addition to burning through profits, Christina Betancourt-Johnson says her biggest concern is higher prices pushing customers back to the illicit market. She argues the general assembly intentionally set the original tax low in an effort to eliminate illegal weed sales.
Read more at ABC 7 News