Oregon collects over $54 million in marijuana tax payments

Salem, Ore. – The State of Oregon has collected over $54 million in gross marijuana tax receipts so far this year, according to the Oregon Department of Revenue.

Statistics show a steady increase in tax receipts received by the state in 2016. Starting with $2,484,170 for the month of February, the gross receipts increased to a high of $7,831,157 for the month of October before dropping off to $6,463,877 in November.

A total of $54,506,832 of marijuana tax receipts has been reported by the state so far this year.

The Department of Revenue added that retailers retain 2% of taxes collected as a reimbursement for the cost of tax collection.

Officials said under Oregon’s recreational marijuana tax system, businesses that sell recreational marijuana to consumers add the tax to the buyer’s total at the point of sale. The collected taxes are then submitted to the Oregon Department of Revenue.

According to the Department of Revenue, 40% of recreational marijuana tax revenue is distributed to schools; 20% goes toward mental health, alcoholism and drug services; 15% for Oregon State Police; 10% for cities that are not opted-out of licensing; 10% toward counties that are not opted-out of licensing; 5% goes toward the Oregon Health Authority. Marijuana tax revenue does not go toward the state’s general fund.