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April 24, 2017

Goldberg: marijuana taxes should be at least 15%

Massachusetts should raise its taxes on marijuana to 15 percent "at a minimum," according to Treasurer Deborah Goldberg.

State lawmakers as early as this summer are expected to tackle a bill overhauling the 2016 voter law legalizing marijuana use and retail sales. Under the ballot law, total taxes amount to 12 percent, accounting for excise, sales and local option taxes.

"At a minimum we have to be looking at a total of 15," Goldberg said during an "On the Record" interview that aired Sunday on WCVB-TV.

"We really need to look at some raise because it is going to cause issues that I believe we will need funding to deal with," added Goldberg, who is charged with overseeing regulation of the retail marijuana industry under the voter law.

The ballot law established a 3.75 percent tax rate on marijuana sales, on top of the state's 6.25 percent sales tax. Cities or towns have the ability to add their own 2 percent tax as well.

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