New Jersey voters are strongly in favor of a referendum to legalize marijuana that’s on their ballots this November—and most support of setting a tax rate for cannabis that’s higher than the standard sales tax—according to a new survey.
The poll, commissioned by Brach Eichler LLC, showed that 66 percent of likely voters back the legalization measure, which was placed before voters by the legislature. That’s about five percentage points higher than when residents were surveyed on the issue in April.
For the tax rate question, respondents were asked whether adult-use cannabis “should have a higher sales tax rate than other goods and services in New Jersey (currently 6.625%).” About 55 percent said marijuana should be taxed higher.
“Most people don’t favor higher taxes, but we believe this reflects both an awareness of the fiscal needs of the State, as well as an understanding that other states that have legalized cannabis have imposed taxes and surcharges of up to 25 percent,” Charles Gormally, cochair of the Cannabis Law Practice at the law firm Brach Eichler LLC, said in a press release.