When Colorado voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, they believed it would significantly increase education spending across our state. This belief was encouraged by the proponents of legalization.
The reality of this funding formula is much more complex, but tax revenues from marijuana sales have not provided the level of education funding suggested in the 2012 legalization campaign.
This report examines the reality of marijuana tax revenues for public education in Colorado.
The goal is to provide a comprehensive look at what the state’s marijuana industry does – and does not – contribute towards school funding so that policymakers and voters can make informed decisions about future tax and regulatory proposals for recreational marijuana in Colorado.