Oregon marijuana: State-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries charge a 25 percent sales tax to customers for recreational marijuana products.Pictured: An employee collects money while holding packages of marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Washington, on July 8, 2014, the first day of recreational sales in the state. (David Ryder, Getty Images file)

Oregon recreational marijuana sales reach $160 million in 2016

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon marijuana dispensaries have sold more than $160 million worth of recreational marijuana so far in 2016.

The Register-Guard reports that according to sales tax figures released Monday by the state Department of Revenue, more than $160 million worth of pot was sold in the first nine months of the year, bringing in $40.2 million in sales tax payments.

State-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries charge a 25 percent sales tax to customers for recreational marijuana products.

The figures come weeks after the Oregon Liquor Control Commission licensed the first retailers in its recreational marijuana program. Those retailers charge a 17 percent state sales tax for all recreational marijuana products.

Medical dispensaries must become licensed with the OLCC if they want to continue to sell recreational pot in 2017.

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Information from: The Register-Guard