Denver Marijuana Tax Revenue Exceeds Half a Billion Dollars
DENVER — According to news reports, data released this week by the city of Denver shows tax revenue from legal marijuana sales has generated more than half a billion dollars for the city since 2010. The news comes less than a couple weeks after the Colorado Department of Revenue announced state marijuana tax revenue has exceeded $2.5 billion.
From 2010 to August 2023, regulated cannabis businesses conducted about $5.7 billion in legal sales of adult-use and medical marijuana, producing $501,538,144 in local tax revenue. The revenue has been used to support affordable housing ($61.7 million), homelessness services ($30 million), education ($27 million), small business investment ($10 million), and opioid intervention ($4 million).
“Colorado’s cannabis industry has fulfilled legalization’s promise of substantial tax revenue for our state and local communities,” said Chuck Smith, president of the board of directors at Colorado Leads. “These businesses are not only generating revenue, but also creating jobs, utilizing the products and services of other local businesses, and making charitable contributions to a wide range of local causes.”
Earlier this month, Colorado Leads hosted a golf tournament that raised thousands of dollars for the Denver Assessment, Intake, and Diversion (AID) Center, a crucial connection point to comprehensive community and systems-based services for justice-involved individuals and others.
“While our economic impacts tend to grab the headlines, we are most proud of our industry’s commitment to regulatory compliance and enhancing public safety,” Smith said. “Regulated marijuana businesses ensure adults who choose to consume cannabis can purchase it safely and legally. They also take great care to prevent cannabis from being sold to minors.”
Late last week, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division announced the compliance rate for underage sales checks reached a record high 99% in 2022.
Projections show cannabis employment growth could increase 50% in 2020. That would be more than the number of the nation’s computer programmers. 
The year marijuana was hailed as a miraculous treatment for “general debility” and “nervous excitement.” Since then, there hasn’t been much scientific research on cannabis, but Colorado is one of the states trying to 
Put a $ in front of it and it’s $167 million. That’s the tax revenue generated by the Colorado cannabis industry from January through June of 2020. Since legalization, the state has received nearly $1.4 billion in cannabis taxes and fees.
Here are the 35 
That is how much of an increase in the rates of crime in states bordering Colorado and Washington, according to 
Bob DeGabrielle, CEO of Los Sueños Farms, talked to Westword about the problems cannabis growers face when hit with severe and unpredictable weather. Growers aren’t allowed under Colorado law to move plants off the property during a weather emergency. 
Amen
More taxes?
Another first for Colorado
Move to overturn the will of the voters
Getting what you need
Thinking outside the box
We got this
Cannabis love connection
NIMBYers take note
The Pew Charitable Trusts looks at the inherent difficulties in projecting tax revenues in states with legal cannabis. The report includes some interesting graphics comparing Colorado to other states. 
The Louisville City Council approved two ordinances to send two November ballot questions to voters: one, to allow marijuana cultivation facilities in the city and two, authorization to impose an excise tax on those facilities.
Denver-area schools will split more than $14 million raised through marijuana taxes and lottery revenue for projects ranging from replacing roofs to expanding their buildings.
Colorado budget writers want to prioritize spending marijuana tax money on opioids and education, but it could mean cuts elsewhere.
The Colorado State Board of Education agreed Thursday to allocate $401 million to 43 school construction projects – including some in Colorado Springs – under the program that is partially funded by marijuana state excise taxes.