AR HB1580

Amends Arkansas Constitution Amendment 98 to add a special privilege tax on medical marijuana sales in addition to existing state and local sales taxes.

Creates the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Special Privilege Tax Act of 2017, imposing a 4% special privilege tax on gross receipts from usable marijuana sales by cultivation facilities, dispensaries, and other marijuana businesses.

Requires marijuana businesses to collect and remit the tax monthly to the Department of Finance and Administration by the 20th day of the following month using the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point electronic filing system.

Establishes definitions for cultivation facilities, dispensaries, marijuana businesses, and usable marijuana under the new tax law, with administration subject to the Arkansas Tax Procedure Act.

Sets the subchapter to expire on July 1, 2019, unless extended by the General Assembly, and declares an emergency effective date of July 1, 2017, to coincide with when the Medical Marijuana Commission begins accepting license applications.