Earlier this week it was reported that marijuana sales in Colorado topped $1 billion in 2015. That is an increase in revenue of nearly 45% from about $700 million in the previous year.
So my question to residents in Massachusetts is twofold: first do you believe the reputation of Colorado has been somehow tainted and is now a less desirable place to live or visit because of the legalization of marijuana? Second, do you think our state can afford NOT to sell marijuana?
Q: If MA sold $1b in marijuana, how much tax revenue would it generate?
A: $62,500,000 (based on MA 6.25% sales tax)
Presumably the sale of marijuana in Massachusetts would be subject to more than our 6.25% sales tax much like cigarettes have additional taxes. Think about how much money we’d generate from the sale of marijuana and square that with the fact that we can’t find the money we need to invest in our infrastructure, improve our schools or make our state universities more affordable.
BosGuy 
Tax on sales of recreational marijuana is about 30% in Colorado and 45% in Washington, depending on local sales tax. A lot of revenue for any state.
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I’d say that $62 million was a lot of money and needs to be considered… BUT, they also said that about the potential of millions of dollars in revenue from the sales of lottery tickets when it was proposed… And where did that get us? Still a dollar (or two) short.
I am not against the lottery, or the sale of legalized marijuana… I just think that more attention needs to be paid to where the money comes from… And where it goes.
I’m betting that Colorado state govt still has budget problems; let’s just make sure the same thing doesn’t happen in Mass or any other state.
Love other feedback…
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I’ve never smoked it – but I do think that it is idiotic that it is illegal. I would have thought the Diritos lobby would have pushed it through by now. 😉
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