Colorado’s Marijuana Sales in 2017 Have Already Surpassed $750M

In the first half of 2017, Colorado reports marijuana sales of over $750 million, with recreational sales bringing in $531 million and medical sales $220 million. That is a 25.7% increase in comparison to the first half of 2016.

So far this year, Colorado has generated close to $116 million in sales tax revenues and licensing fees combined, according to Washington Examiner.

Bethany Gomez of Brightfield Group said, “What you’re seeing in Colorado is similar to the other industries, we’re starting to see lower double-digit growth rates, rather than the triple-digit growth rates. That time of massive growth expansion in Colorado, I think, is over.”

Sales peaked in March, raking in $131 million. Sales are expected to slow to around $100 million per month over the next year.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper had a discussion with Attorney General Sessions recently. Regarding that conversation, Hickenlooper said, “He has higher priorities. Marijuana’s not the same threat to this country as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine – and he recognizes he has limited resources. He said, ‘Listen, we’re not going to come in and shut everything down.’ We have not seen any crackdown. He really said he didn’t plan on having a crackdown.”