Opinion: Changing weed and vape taxes could cost Washington money. It’s worth the risk
Proposed tax changes on nicotine and cannabis in Washington could reduce state revenue but may discourage youth addiction and harm.Summary
This opinion piece discusses proposed excise tax changes on nicotine and cannabis in Washington State. While opponents argue these changes could decrease state revenue, the author contends the potential benefits – reducing addiction and harm, particularly among young people – outweigh the financial risk. The proposed nicotine tax would extend existing taxes to flavored vapes, while the cannabis tax would shift from a price-based model to one based on potency. This would disproportionately affect cheaper products, potentially leading consumers to reduce consumption or choose less potent options. Although these taxes may be regressive and could lead to decreased tax revenue, the author argues that disincentivizing youth use of harmful substances is a smarter approach than prohibition, especially given emerging research on the negative impacts of these products on adolescent psychiatric health.
(Source：Yakima Herald-republic)
