CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TAX & FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS

You’ve lucked out! Get 25% off your purchase of 2+ digital CPE, discounts on credit packages, and more until midnight on March 31st.

Tax Byte

The DEA has begun the process to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug (like heroin and LSD) to a Schedule III drug (like ketamine and anabolic steroids.) The proposal does not legalize recreational marijuana use, but it recognizes cannabis as a less dangerous drug and acknowledges its medical uses.

The move represents the DEA’s biggest policy shift in decades, and it’s likely to have far-reaching business and tax implications.

What are the tax and accounting implications of marijuana rescheduling?

Under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, businesses involved in “trafficking” Schedule I and II substances may not claim deductions for what would otherwise be ordinary business expenses, such as payroll, marketing costs, and rent. As such, reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug will drastically lower the tax obligations of cannabis businesses. It will also help cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level better compete with competitors who operate illegally.

Get tax briefings & analysis in your inbox.

Take your industry knowledge to the next level, learn to outpace the competition, and access special insider discounts.

Recent Stories

Next Up...

Thinking of starting your own Limited Liability Company, better known as an LLC? There are

7 min read
As global business expands, the technical differences between GAAP and IFRS are getting harder for
5 min read
For clients who've maxed out their 401(k)—the Mega Backdoor Roth is a powerful tool, and
4 min read