420 with CNW — Analysis Shows Ohio Stands to Col
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Ohio has the potential to witness a substantial boost in its yearly tax revenue, reaching an impressive $403.5 million from the sales of recreational marijuana, according to a fresh analysis by researchers at Ohio State University. The researchers base their tax revenue estimations on the initial years of sales, drawing insights from comparable markets in other states.
The study primarily hones in on the patterns of cannabis sales in Michigan, a neighboring state with a similar population size. Additionally, Michigan’s tax structure bears a striking resemblance to the one that Ohio would likely adopt if the legalization measure gets the nod. The research also casts its gaze on sales figures from 2018 to 2023 in states such as Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Illinois, and Colorado.
This report marks the second iteration, an update from last year’s edition, factoring in two more years of marijuana sales data in regulated markets. The decision to revise the estimates stems from the high likelihood of Ohio granting voters the opportunity to weigh in on the legalization initiative via the coming ballot.
The outcomes of this research indicate that Ohio could potentially rake in between $276.2 and $403.5 million in annual tax revenue from cannabis sales within five years of its legalization. Notably, the lower estimate remains consistent with the previous year’s report, while the upper range has surged by nearly $30 million due to the inclusion of more sales data from the six states.
This range in estimations results from the utilization of three distinct pricing models. The models map out the potential tax income under the following scenarios: Ohio’s cannabis products are taxed at rates equivalent to Michigan’s, 10% higher or 20% higher.
The paper underscores the pivotal role tax levels and structure would play in determining the final tax revenue. Although the Michigan tax framework and the proposed Ohio tax structure are comparatively modest among legalized states, Ohio could opt for higher taxes, potentially leading to enhanced revenue. Nevertheless, this could inadvertently elevate product costs, making it challenging to combat the illicit marijuana trade and potentially resulting in dwindling tax returns over time.
The report further elucidates that revenue from marijuana tends to exhibit robust growth during the initial stages of adult-use legalization, with a subsequent tapering off as markets mature. As evident from their review of different states, established markets have witnessed declines in cannabis tax revenue, while newer entrants such as Illinois and Michigan experienced significant revenue growth.
The updated analysis projects escalating marijuana revenue in Ohio, projecting figures as high as $218.5 million in the second year of sales, surging to potentially $305.6 million in the third year and $366.8 million in the fourth year. The peak is expected to be reached in the fifth year, hitting the $403.5 million milestone.
Throughout 2023, multiple states with legalized marijuana have reported consistently record-breaking monthly sales. Michigan, for instance, achieved a new monthly record in July, exceeding the previous month’s sales by a substantial margin.
States in the Northeast, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut, have all marked new records for marijuana transactions. Illinois recorded its strongest sales month to date in July, while Maryland also saw impressive figures since launching its recreational market. Missouri has also experienced a thriving cannabis market since its recreational market initiation in February, boasting daily sales averaging around $4 million and attaining a record-breaking $121.3 million in cannabis purchases in June.
In Ohio, proponents of cannabis legalization are confident about the initiative’s appearance on the ballot. Despite falling short by 679 signatures initially, advocates managed to bridge the gap during a 10-day correction period after submitting a substantial number of petitions. The campaign awaits official confirmation of success from the secretary of state’s office.
Once cannabis is legalized in Ohio, numerous business opportunities are likely to open up for a diverse variety of enterprises, such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), which specialize in providing supplies like indoor cultivation equipment to mainstream marijuana companies.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACTX
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