A Federal Finance Court ruling over the tobacco tax on hemp flowers is now causing problems for domestic cannabis shops. Because they are not legally subject to the Narcotics Act, hemp products must therefore be subject to tobacco tax regulations.
Oils, soaps, seeds, but also smoked flowers – more and more hemp shops are offering their wares for sale throughout Austria. It is estimated that there are now more than 100 such shops between Lake Constance and Lake Neusiedler, plus numerous vending machines. Tendency clearly rising, because the cash register is ringing.
The sale of ‘smokable material’ outside their sphere of influence has long been a thorn in the side of local tobacconists. As is known, they are subject to the tobacco monopoly and have to pay taxes accordingly for the sale of their products.
Court confirms tobacco shops position
A ruling from the Federal Financial Court now confirms this position: Accordingly, the sale of hemp blossoms would also be subject to the Tobacco Act – and thus also to the monopoly administration. In other words, from a legal point of view, hemp products (we are talking about “grass” with a THC content of less than 0.3 percent, which because of its effect does not fall under the Narcotics Act) must be subject to the Tobacco Act tax regulations.
Josef Prirschl (pictured above), the federal president of the tobacconists, is demanding immediate approval for the sale of smokable hemp blossoms for the approximately 2,300 tobacconists in Austria. According to reports, it has been in a drawer of the Ministry of Finance for months…
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
