There are many reasons to support legalizing, regulating and taxing cannabis. For many, it’s civil liberties and social justice. For others, it’s the economic opportunities and new tax revenue. If marijuana sales in Colorado and Washington are any indication, the economics make sense, especially as federal law improves and states improve upon their own rules and regulations.
Retail cannabis sales started in Colorado at the beginning of 2014. Retail cannabis sales didn’t start in Washington until July of 2014. Both states have seen steady sales numbers as the months have gone by, with increases most months over previous months. New numbers are out in both states, which show a huge increase in Washington, and steady sales numbers in Colorado. Per Marijuana Business Daily:
November retail marijuana sales in Washington State rose 24% from the previous month to hit $16 million, boosting excise taxes due to the state to more than $4 million, according to the liquor control board. Revenues and tax collections from recreational cannabis have risen each month since sales beganin early July.
In Colorado, recreational marijuana sales totaled about $30.6 million in October, up about 1.5% from the September total. Medical sales totaled $32 million, up 2% from $31.3 million the previous month.
Alaska, Oregon, and hopefully Washington D.C. will soon be rolling out legal recreational cannabis sales. I’d assume that they will see strong sales numbers too. With those strong sales numbers come much needed jobs, tax revenues, and a boost to local economies. Is there a state in America that can’t use extra tax dollars and jobs? Why isn’t every state in America doing this? It’s likely only a matter of time until the federal government allows for states to more freely implement all of their own marijuana laws and more and more states will want to cash in on the br
Anthony Johnson
Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.
