Dispensary Beats Counties’ Cannabis Taxes at Missouri Court (1)

Counties can’t impose cannabis taxes on dispensaries within incorporated areas under the Missouri constitution, the state high court held Tuesday.

The Missouri Supreme Court based its decision off the plain language of a constitutional amendment.

“The plain language of article XIV, section 2 limits the definition of ‘local government’ to allow only one local government to impose a 3 percent tax—a village, town, or city in an incorporated area, and a county in an unincorporated area,” Judge Mary R. Russell wrote for the majority.

Missouri voters amended the constitution to legalize marijuana and to allow local authorities to impose a ...