Official ballot language:

QUESTION (Additional sales tax on retail sale of adult-use marijuana)

Shall the City of Raymore impose and additional sales tax of three percent (3%) on the retail sale of adult-use non-medical marijuana?

□ YES

□ NO

In November 2022, Missouri voters approved an amendment to the state's constitution (Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3), making the use and sale of recreational (adult use) marijuana legal in Missouri for adults over the age of 21.

The amendment also placed a 6% state sales tax on the purchase of recreational marijuana and authorized local governments to add a 3% sales tax.

At its meeting on Jan. 9, 2023, the Raymore City Council unanimously approved a bill to put a question on the April 4 ballot regarding the 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana.

If voters approve the question, the City of Raymore will collect an additional 3% sales tax on purchases of recreational marijuana made within the city. The additional 3% tax will NOT apply to medical marijuana, only to recreational marijuana.

The funds collected from the tax will be allocated to the City's General Fund, which pays for the core administrative and operational expenses of the City. Some of those expenses include personnel, all expenses of the Raymore Police Department, 911 dispatching expenses, Animal Control and court operations, pothole patching, street lights and the electricity for them, snow removal/salt/brine, membership in the program that allows residents to safely dispose of household hazardous waste year-round at mobile collection events and permanent facilities, the annual community paper shredding event and landfill opposition expenses (legal and public relations).

If voters approve the Cass County 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana, it will NOT stack on recreational marijuana purchases made in Raymore.

If voters approve the ballot question, the tax will go into effect Oct. 1, 2023.