Colorado One Year

IncSmart Colorado (Small Business and Startups) - Colorado is the first state to ever enact state law to tax and to regulate the sale of marijuana for private use beyond medical purposes.  Two years are over.  How did they do?  Reports from the Colorado Department of Revenue show that the first ten months of legal marijuana sales have resulted in nearly $40 million in tax revenue.  Denver saw a decrease in violent crime rates in the first 11 months of 2014, following a similar trend in 2013. Reports from the Colorado Department of Transportation show that traffic fatalities statewide, are declining.

2016-2017, Colorado collected $105 million from the sale of cannabis. Most of the money went to public schools, health programs, and the managing of the state’s marijuana program.  $8 million has also been allocated to help with education and drug prevention.  15.3 million towards permanent supportive housing and for individuals with behavioral health needs, such as at-risk of homelessness.  $7.1 million for ending the use of jails for people who have a mental health crisis by increasing access to services outside the criminal justice system. The state economic growth has the lowest unemployment rate in years.