Sacramento – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration reported tax revenue numbers Friday totaling $116.6 million for cannabis sales for the first quarter of 2019.

This compares to the $60.9 million total the CDTFA reported for the first quarter of 2018.

As of May 15, California’s cannabis excise tax generated $61.4 million in revenue reported on the 1st quarter 2019 returns due by April 30, and the cultivation tax generated $16.8 million.

Sales tax from cannabis businesses totaled $38.4 million in reported revenue for the same period.

Retail sales of medicinal cannabis and medicinal cannabis products are exempt from sales and use taxes when the purchaser provides a valid Medical Marijuana Identification card and valid government-issued identification card. Sales taxes apply to sales of cannabis and other tangible personal property.

Total tax revenue reported by the cannabis industry is $116.6 million for 1st quarter returns due by April 30. This does not include tax revenue collected by each jurisdiction.

Previously reported revenue for the 4th quarter 2018 returns was revised to $111.9 million, which included $55.6 million in excise tax, $17.2 million in cultivation tax, and $39.1 million in sales tax.

Revisions to quarterly data are the result of amended and late returns and other tax return adjustments.

In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Beginning on January 1, 2018, two new cannabis taxes went into effect: a cultivation tax on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market and a 15 percent excise tax upon purchasers of cannabis and cannabis products. In addition, retail sales of cannabis and cannabis products are subject to state and local sales tax.

To learn more, visit the Tax Guide for Cannabis Businesses on the CDTFA website.

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The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration administers California’s sales and use, fuel, tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. CDTFA-administered programs account for over 25 percent of all state revenue. California’s essential services, such as public safety, transportation, health, libraries, schools, social services, and natural resource management programs, are directly supported by these taxes and fees.