| Taxes in Oakland are increasing from 14.25% to 34.25%, and in San Jose they are increasing from 19.25% to the same 34.25%. [1] Medical users with a county Medical Marijuana Information Card (MMIC) are only exempt from a portion of this, the 8.5% sales and use tax. [2] To get an MMIC you first need a doctor's recommendation (typically $40/year). The maximum cost of an MMIC from the county is $100/year, or $50/year for Medi-Cal patients. So to save the 8.5% sales tax, you need to visit a cannabis doctor, wait in line, and pay $40, then visit the county public health department, wait in line again, and pay as much as another $100. If you are a heavy user, this could save you some money, but I have a feeling that most people in California who are currently medical users will simply drop the medical recommendation and buy under the new adult-use rules. [1] https://www.shopharborside.com/adult-use-regs.html (expand the "new taxes" item) [2] https://www.thegreencross.org/newsletter |