Legal Marijuana: 9 Charts You Need to See…

On January 1, 2014, Colorado became the first state to legalize the sale and

possession of marijuana for recreational use…

One of the main arguments in favor of doing so was that it would “bolster

Colorado’s economy with significant tax revenue and job creation…”

Whether you agree or disagree with the move, we now know that it has…

On February 18, 2014, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper

submitted his official budget request for the upcoming fiscal year beginning

July 1, 2015…

Among other things, his request revealed that tax revenues from marijuana sales are exploding…

In fiscal year 2013, which ends on June 30th, Colorado will earn an estimated $51 million in tax revenue from the sale of marijuana.

In fiscal year 2014, the first full year of recreational sales, the figures is expected to increase to $134 million.

FY 2013 FY 2014

$51 Million

$134 Million

+ 163

%

Question: What caused revenue projections to skyrocket?Answer: The addition of recreational sales beginning January 1, 2014. FY 2014 Tax Revenues

w/out Recreational SalesFY 2014 Tax Revenues w/

Recreational Sales

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

$16 Million

$134 Million

You can see why this is when you look at the breakdown in tax revenue from medical and recreational sales.

Portion of tax revenues from medical marijuana sales: 12%

Portion of tax revenues from recreational marijuana sales: 88%

Medical Sales $15,796,489

12%

Recreational Sales $117,847,657

88%

Medical Marijuana Sales

Recreational Marijuana Sales

Where exactly is the revenue coming from?

Sales

Tax63%

Fees

36%

Other1%

Sales

Tax59%

Ex-cise Tax39%

Fees & Other

2%

What is Colorado going to do with all its newfound riches???

$40 million will go towards building and improving public schools…

Build

Schools$40 mil-lion

$45 million will be spent on programs to prevent and deter marijuana use by children…

Youth

Drug Prevention

$45 million

$42 million will be used to treat substance abuse…

Sub-stance

Abuse

Treatmen

t$42 mil-lion

$12 million will fund regulatory oversight of the marijuana industry…

Regulatory Oversight$12 million

And $12 million will go toward law enforcement and other areas…

Other$12 million

So, is it worth it?

That remains to be seen.

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