The Canada Revenue Agency has begun writing off millions in tax owed by bankrupt marijuana dealers. Unpaid excise taxes overall are more than a quarter billion since Parliament legalized cannabis.

“Since the inception of the excise tax on cannabis up to September 21 a total of $4,718,514 has been written off as uncollectible,” the Agency wrote in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons. “All the entities with accounts that have been written off were located in Ontario.”

The write-offs were a fraction of taxes owed by licensed cannabis growers, wholesalers and retailers. Taxes owing totaled $269.8 million as of last March 31. The latest write-off figures were tabled at the request of Conservative MP Tako Van Popta (Langley-Aldergrove, B.C.) who asked, “With regard to entities that owe the Canada Revenue Agency for unpaid excise tax on cannabis, how many have filed for creditor protection or bankruptcy since the legalization of cannabis?