// Definition
A tax levied on cannabis products in Canada, applied through physical tax stamps on packaging. Critics argue the excise tax treats cannabis equivalently to harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol, despite cannabis being recognized as medicine, creating an unfair cost burden on patients and small producers.
// From the Episode
Jodie Ramsey highlighted the absurdity of taxing a recognized medicine at the same rate as tobacco and alcohol. Bubbleman cited a Saskatchewan hash producer who posted that excise tax comprised 58.9% of the cost of his product. The discussion noted that the same cannabis grown in the same facility is shipped tax-free to medical patients through Health Canada's program while being heavily taxed on the recreational shelf.