Colorado Just Became The First State In History To Collect More Taxes From Marijuana Than Alcohol

The Daily Caller ^ | 09/15/2015

[lilypad]

Oh it’s paradise alright .http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28267705/newcomers-costilla-county-lured-by-legal-marijuana-cheap

[funfan]

Add e-cigs to the death penalty also.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

Everybody’s stoned and the State is collecting record taxes.

I liberal wet dream.

[catnipman]

““It’s crazy how much revenue our state used to flush down the drain by forcing marijuana sales into the underground market,” “

Turns out that the underground pot market in Colorado is WAY bigger than ever because untaxed pot is WAY cheaper than so-called “legal” pot, which not only has the big state tax, but huge supply costs and overhead expenses of the specialized boutique stores in which it is sold.

And of course with so much pot floating around everywhere, it’s essentially impossible to enforce any kind of pot laws. I think the cops have all pretty much just given up wasting their time, because all they would be doing is enforcing a state monopoly and tax laws anyway.

[philman_36]

... the underground pot market in Colorado is WAY bigger than ever...

Got link?

[Svartalfiar]

Part of the reason why marijuana has completely outpaced alcohol in bringing in revenue is that marijuana users spend much more on the drug than Americans spend on alcohol or tobacco. According to new market research from Marijuana Business Daily, the average amount spent on marijuana in states where the drug is legal is $1,800 per year. Alcohol spending is pegged at only $450 and tobacco at $315, representing a major gap.

Lies. I've spent over $300 in a single grocery trip to buy beer. And that was just because the fridge's beer shelf was empty, not even for a party or anything. Tobacco I occasionally buy, loose or cigars. But I know some people who spend $200 a MONTH on cigarettes.

I suppose the gap could be explained by a single ounce of weed costing the same as several six-packs. (Pipe tobacco is $5 an ounce. And it smells/tastes/looks better!)

Not sure where they pull those numbers from, and I can see MJ users spending that much, but I can't see the alcohol/tobacky numbers being that low. The ONLY reason they're getting so much tax revenue is because everyone from out-of-state goes there and stocks up. I have a buddy who drove there from TX a couple weeks ago, and spent $6-700 on souvenirs, just for himself. Once other states start legalizing/taxing it, CO's tax revenue from MJ is probably gonna drop tenfold or so.

[KC_Lion]

Ping!

[TigersEye]

My cynical side tells me that politicians will take this as a reason to raise taxes on booze.

[TigersEye]

Why imagine when you can look it up?

Total casino gaming revenue in the state of Colorado declined for a second consecutive calendar year in 2014 to reach USD $745.897 million. It has been the lowest revenue level since 2009, when a figure of $734.590 million was reported.

That doesn't include race tracks and the CO Lottery.

[catnipman]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/07/30/inside-colorados-flourishing-segregated-black-market-for-pot/

https://www.google.com/search?q=illegal+pot+sales+colorado&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=illegal+pot+sales+cheaper+colorado

[BatGuano]

Is that total the amount of taxes collected by the state or the revenue of the casinos that is subject to being taxed?
What is the tax rate on gambling?

[TigersEye]

You got me there. When I saw the word 'revenue' I assumed it meant taxes.
Here is where I got the figures...

Colorado Casino Gaming Revenue Analysis

[philman_36]

July 30, 2014? Anything more recent?

[catnipman]

https://www.google.com/search?q=illegal+pot+sales+colorado&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=illegal+pot+sales+cheaper+colorado

take your pick.

[BatGuano]

Thanks for your reply. From that data I’m led to believe that that is total revenue. Taxes? Who knows? We moved from Colorado in 1993 and miss many things, of course the mountains, but would not want to live there now...

[ConservingFreedom]

... the underground pot market in Colorado is WAY bigger than ever...

Got link?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/07/30/inside-colorados-flourishing-segregated-black-market-for-pot/

Your link contradicts your claim:

"Some in law enforcement and on the street say it may be as strong as it’s ever been, so great is the unmet local and visitor demand."

Also note:

"That the black market bustles in the emerging days of legalization is not unexpected. By some reckonings, it will continue as long as residents of other states look to Colorado — and now Washington state — as the nation’s giant cannabis cookie jar. And, they add, as long as its legal retail competition keeps prices high and is taxed by state and local government at rates surpassing 30 percent."

[ConservingFreedom]

Why imagine when you can look it up?

Because imagination is more congenial to the preconceptions of the moral-statist.

[ConservingFreedom]

ping

[DiogenesLamp]

Because imagination is more congenial to the preconceptions of the moral-statist.

No more so than short sighted Libertarians who think they can sh*t in the public swimming pool and it won't cause any problems.

[ConservingFreedom]

Using drugs, unlike catching e coli, is a choice.