Arkansas bill would raise medical marijuana tax to fund cancer center

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An Arkansas bill would raise the tax on medical marijuana in the state and create other taxes to help UAMS Medical Center become a major cancer research center.

House Bill 1442 was filed Wednesday by state Rep. Andy Davis, R-Little Rock, and Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe. The proposal would increase the tax collected from marijuana cultivators, dispensaries and other marijuana-related businesses from 4 percent to 6 percent. It would create an additional tax of 50 cents on cigarette papers, which are commonly used to roll marijuana joints. The bill would also create a tax on e-cigarettes.

Revenue would go toward helping UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock become the first National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Arkansas.

The centers conduct research that supports the institute's effort to study and control cancer. There are currently 70 of the centers in 36 states.

Arkansas voters approved a state medical marijuana program in 2016. Cultivation began in January. As of this month, all 32 dispensaries in the state had been licensed and the state had begun issuing patient ID cards.

The bill filed Wednesday is below.