Medical marijuana patients praise Talent's no tax decision

Talent, Ore. –Medical Marijuana patients are praising the City of Talent for voting 4-2 not to their medicine.

“I feel great. Great that patients aren’t being taxed for medical marijuana. And that’s wonderful at least for us,” said Wesley Pryor, a medical marijuana user.

Pryor says having no tax on his marijuana means bigger savings to his wallet,but he also believes it will fill the wallets of Green Valley Wellness.

Green Valley Wellness CEO Michael Monarch agrees.

“Many of our customers have reacted towards Gold Hill situation where they are being taxed 5% and have chosen either to shop with us or just be inanimositytowards that situation of taxingtheirmedicine,” said Monarch.

While the city council decided not to tax medical marijuana, they did vote to tax recreational pot, should voters pass it in November.

Even though the city considers recreational marijuana a potential revenue source, they don’t want to stand between people and their medicine.

“I think the reality they just couldn’t get beyond taxing what they consider medical supplies,” said Talent Mayor Bill Cecil.

A recreational pot tax could be as high as 15% in Talent.

But Mayor Cecil says a final decision on the exact number won’t be determined until after the November election, if it passes statewide.