Buying non-medical marijuana in Nixa and other municipalities in Christian County may — or may not — cost more after voters approved a 3 percent sales tax April 2.
That’s likely dependent on a decision Missouri courts will make when lawsuits are settled around the state.
Courts are being asked to decide if a city and county can “stack” taxes on non-medical marijuana — meaning that both a county and municipal tax would be applied — or if counties would be limited to collecting the tax only in unincorporated areas of each county.
Nixa voters approved the new sales tax by a wide margin Tuesday, with more than 70 percent voting “yes” on the measure. Christian County voters approved a 3-percent tax on recreational marijuana in 2023.
“It’s not up to us; it’s not up to the voters,” said Drew Douglas, director of communications for the City of Nixa. “It’s up to the courts to figure out.”
Whatever is decided, the revenue collected in Nixa will go into the city’s general fund used for administrative costs, police and parks.
With only one dispensary in Nixa, the potential revenue won’t amount to much.
“It’s not expected to be enough to hire a full-time position in any department and not anticipated to be enough to pay for a capital improvements project,” Douglas said.
Officials with Elevate, the only marijuana dispensary in Nixa, did not respond to interview requests. The company is based in Kansas City.
Other communities that approved a 3-percent sales tax on nonmedical marijuana Tuesday include Billings and Highlandville in Christian County and Republic, Rogersville and Pleasant Hope in Greene County.
In Springfield, voters approved a 3-percent tax on non-medical marijuana in August 2023. Greene County has not asked voters to approve a tax.
Localities were allowed to ask voters to approve a 3-percent tax on non-medical marijuana after a constitutional amendment allowed sales of recreational marijuana in Missouri. The amendment also allows the state to collect a 6 percent sales tax.
Local taxes don’t apply to sales of medical marijuana; the state rate is fixed at 4%.
