Massachusetts marijuana tax could hit 56 percent, legalization proponents argue as state lawmakers struggle with overhaul bill

Massachusetts marijuana advocates were enraged on Wednesday, saying taxes on Bay State marijuana could skyrocket to 56 percent under a State House plan to overhaul the legalization law approved by voters.

Hours later, state House Speaker Robert DeLeo said lawmakers will not vote on the bill on Thursday as originally planned. “But it will be taken up soon,” he told reporters, adding he hopes to get a final version of the bill to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk on before July.

That means the proposed re-write of the pot law is getting its own re-write.

The move to yank the bill from consideration underscores the complexity lawmakers face in crafting legislation that deals with a substance still illegal at the federal level and touches on healthcare and criminal justice issues.

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