Ontario’s biggest weed dealer is considering a retail price of around $10 a gram in a system that could bring a tax windfall of more than $100 million a year. That $10 fee — estimated after New Brunswick signed deals with two suppliers last week — is on the radar as officials here determine a price for recreational marijuana when it becomes legal next July 1, says Finance Minister Charles Sousa. “It’s certainly something we’re giving consideration to,” Sousa told reporters Wednesday. “We’re trying to work with all of our colleagues across Canada,” Sousa said, noting federal and provincial finance ministers will meet later this year on pricing and taxation levels.“The intent is to have some uniformity with these prices across Canada.” It’s crucial to have prices in line with neighbouring jurisdictions and to “ensure it’s not overly expensive” to avoid fuelling illegal sales in the underground economy, Sousa added.Critics have warned the government monopoly on pot sales will not kill the black market. Sousa would not speculate on how much the sale of recreational cannabis could bring to provincial coffers.That’s because the cost of a new LCBO-run system of standalone pot stores, public education about the impacts of marijuana, and the costs of enforcement and policing will have to be factored in.But Sousa conceded gross revenues of more than $100 million annually are possible given that Ontario will have a larger customer base than many U.S. states with legalized marijuana.“It’s not a ridiculous number to consider because, as you’ve seen in other parts of North America, the numbers have actually been even higher.”Eight U.S. states, including California, Colorado and Washington, have legalized marijuana. CNN has reported that Colorado, for example, has brought in $506 million in taxes and fees since retail sales began in 2014, with $200 mill ...
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