Colorado crosses the billion dollar mark in marijuana tax revenues
It has been five years since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana sales. In that time, the state’s seen a rise in its revenues from taxes on cannabis, voted to use some of that tax money for public education and fighting opioid addiction, while also lowering highway vehicular fatalities. All around it’s been a big success. Colorado’s “experiment” with legalizing marijuana has reached a new milestone: the state has collectively raked in over $1 billion since legalization.
CNBC reports that the revenue Colorado is bringing in are increasing, with April and May of 2019 showing the highest returns the Centennial state has seen, with roughly $24 million coming in each month. Gov. Jared Polis explained the overall success of the legalization of marijuana at a CNBC event recently, “It’s creating tens of thousands of jobs, tax revenue for the state, filling up buildings for landlords and reducing crime.” VIA DAILY KOS
As ever I am astonished that the politicians inherent greed has not taken over and legalization occurred, but then I remember that the midget minds in Dover also love to wait until the train has left the station before attempting to jump on. That and I dare say the struggle to cash in is still going on behind the scenes.
Wilmington Police chief against pot legalization
The WDEL story notes Chief Tracy hates gay marriage too but will uphold the law, whatever.
https://www.wdel.com/news/wilmington-police-chief-against-pot-legalization/article_f1ee58ac-8ee6-11e9-8ca6-e7cd2a81a84a.html
Wilmington Police Chief Robert Tracy…….added legalization has unintended consequences.”It actually creates more violence because there’s no penalty behind it, so the competition’s more stiff, and the profit’s there, so then you have a lot of dealers who are in conflict with each other who will protect their territory or their trade. I found last year or the year before, I’m finding violence that’s over marijuana and not the other drugs,” he said.
When asked what laws Tracy may have private reservations about, he pointed to the legalization of same-sex marriage.
“What you do in your life, and what you do privately, that’s none of my business, and I accept all, because I’m here to represent all people. As long as you’re not breaking the law, I’m in a good place with what anybody wants to do.”
Eeeeesh.
The cops are against legalization for one reason–it will limit their phony illegal searches and seizures because some cop says he smells pot. It has ever been thus.
Nancy/Jason, I’m on the same page with you about legalization. But that’s not what Chief Tracy said about same-sex marriage. I was stuck in traffic and heard his interview on wdel.
Here’s the audio: http://wdel.streamon.fm/listen-pl-3925?smc=43
And here’s the article from wdel:
When asked what laws Tracy may have private reservations about, he mentioned archaic laws, in some states, related to sodomy and rape, as well as the outlawing of same-sex marriage.
“What you do in your life, and what you do privately, that’s none of my business, and I accept all, because I’m here to represent all people. As long as you’re not breaking the law, I’m in a good place with what anybody wants to do.”
https://www.wdel.com/news/wilmington-police-chief-against-pot-legalization/article_f1ee58ac-8ee6-11e9-8ca6-e7cd2a81a84a.html
My quote was accurate so WDEL must have edited their text later to reflect what he actually stated. I know this because I am a stickler for use of ellipsis when I skip over text.
Weak political leaders don’t seem to understand that weed is commerce and if they don’t put it in play(leagalize it) other state will get Delaware’s market.
“if they don’t…another state will get Delaware’s market.”
That is the very argument that Tom Carper used to make usury legal in Delaware. Why isn’t it working for pot? The cop lobby likes harassing black people too much.
Can’t remember the year but the state of DE spent $13 million prosecuting and jailing mostly black weed smokers. You know what they can do with $13 million in one fiscal year? They are flaming assholes.