Recreational and medical marijuana sales in Colorado continued to climb in July, breaking new records.
Recreational sales came in at $56.4 million in July, topping June’s $50 million mark. Medical marijuana sales were also the highest in 19 months at almost $40 million.
Just $700,000 of marijuana was sold in Colorado in 2014, but nearly $540 million have been sold since the beginning of 2015.
“Those numbers are showing that our pot tourism is surely increasing,” said Tyler Henson, Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce President. “People want to come here and try this out and tell their friends and family that they came to Colorado and tried some of the best cannabis the world has to offer and they had a great time.”
The most-watched figure has been the state’s 15% excise tax, earmarked for school construction. Voters were told that the tax would bring in $40 million a year, but last year it made only $13.3 million. So far this year, the tax has brought in almost $20 million.
“These numbers are going to slowly climb,” Henson said, “but we’re a culture that wants things now. But if we’re patient and wait, those numbers are going to get to where everyone’s expecting. Give it some time, and those numbers are going to be where they’re supposed to be at — and people will start seeing the benefit in the next few years.”
Source:
http://www.thecannabist.co/2015/09/11/colorado-marijuana-july-2015-sales-taxes/40716/
Photo Credit: Pictures of Money