Colorado: Retail Marijuana Sales Surpass $2.2 Billion in 2021

Denver, CO: State-licensed marijuana retailers sold over $2.2 billion worth of marijuana flower and related products in 2021 – the highest annual total ever, according to data released by the state’s Department of Health. 

Since 2014, when adult-use sales first became legal in Colorado, retail cannabis sales have grown each successive year. Over the past seven years, state regulators have collected over $2 billion in taxes and fee revenue from retail sales. 

In all, state-authorized sales of retail marijuana products nationwide have yielded more than $10 billion in new tax revenues, according to an analysis compiled by the Marijuana Policy Project in January.

Much of this revenue has been used to fund various state-specific projects. In Colorado, over $470 million in cannabis-specific tax revenue has been applied toward public schools. In Washington, some $600 million in revenue has been directed toward public health initiatives, including a fund that provides health insurance to low-income families. In California, over $100 million in revenue has been provided to community investment programs and local nonprofit groups. 

Additional information is available from NORML’s fact sheet, ‘Marijuana Regulation: Impact of Health, Safety, Economy.’

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