Last year Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana use in the state. The amendment also allows municipalities to be able to tax local sales of the drug.

Kearney is one of the many cities in Missouri that is letting voters decide if the City should impose a sales tax on retail sales of adult-use marijuana. Amendment 3 gives cities the authority to add an additional 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana if approved by voters.

In less than three weeks, Kearney voters will decide if the City will be allowed to collect that 3% sales tax. For Kearney ballots, the language on the ballot will read as follows:

"Shall the City of Kearney, Missouri, impose a city sales tax of Three Percent (3%) on the sales of adult use marijuana sold at retail?"

A "YES" vote will impose a three percent (3%) sales tax on adult-use, recreational marijuana purchases made within Kearney.

A "NO" vote will not impose a three percent (3%) sales tax on adult-use, recreational marijuana purchases made within Kearney.

This is only a sales tax on recreational marijuana, and would only apply to those who buy the drug for recreational use. Medical marijuana retail sales are exempt from the additional tax. If approved by voters, the sales tax will be collected by the Department of Revenue like other sales taxes.

More information can be found on the City’s website at KearneyMO.us. Election Day is Tuesday, April 4.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this report