Courtesy of MMJ Colorado
The Department of Revenue released sales data late Monday on the hazy bonanza Colorado has enjoyed since passing their controversial recreational use drug law. Even for those who had anticipated good news for state coffers, the figures released blew past expectations.
The doomers and gloomers must have cried in their Lazy-Boys while watching this news report out of Denver today.
The report provides the first concrete proof of what pro-marijuana advocates had promised, that growing and selling the drug locally would generate economic activity here rather than sending drug money out-of-state, and that the drug could provide a windfall to the state government.
"It's like the end of alcohol prohibition. We don't go to the alley to buy a six pack anymore. We go to stores. And that is what's happening with marijuana," said Brian Vicente, who helped legalize pot in Colorado. "This is revenue directly out of the hands of cartels. These tax numbers will probably grow over time, but since it's a new market, we'll have to wait and see."
I'm going to enjoy watching the panic ensue among the already deeply divided Republicans. The social conservatives will be concerned for your children while the fiscal conservatives try to figure out how to cash in on this vast new untapped money source.
While they wrestle in the mud over this, I hope you will join me in a joint and a nice bowl of popcorn.
Hey, don't bogart the popcorn!