{"id":2526887,"date":"2025-12-30T16:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T21:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-marijuana-sales-hit-1b-as-trump-shifts-policy\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T16:44:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T21:44:23","slug":"colorado-marijuana-sales-hit-1b-as-trump-shifts-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-marijuana-sales-hit-1b-as-trump-shifts-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado marijuana sales hit $1B as Trump shifts policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcolorado-marijuana-sales-hit-1b-as-trump-shifts-policy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2526887&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In 2025 Colorado&#8217;s legal marijuana market exceeded $1 billion in sales, producing nearly $200 million in state tax and fee revenue, according to the Colorado Department of revenue. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >department expects marijuana-related tax<\/a> and fee collections to top $1 billion (in aggregate) by year-end. governor Jared Polis hailed the industry for displacing criminal markets, supporting businesses and jobs, and funding school construction. Colorado, which legalized recreational cannabis in 2012, has now collected more than $3 billion in marijuana taxes and fees and seen nearly $18 billion in total sales as legalization. The federal government also shifted policy when President Trump signed an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-expected-to-sign-order-reclassifying-marijuana\/\" title=\"Trump expected to sign ... ...\">executive order reclassifying marijuana<\/a> from Schedule I to Schedule III,a move Polis praised. Critics, though, warn about risks such as high\u2011potency THC products, increased traffic deaths, mental\u2011health and emergency\u2011room impacts, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-or-woke-activist-group-new-york-times-employees-raise-questions-about-guilds-role-in-recent-dismissals\/\" title=\"Union or Woke Activist Group? New York Times Employees Raise Questions About Guild\u2019s Role in Recent Dismissals\">workplace safety concerns<\/a>, and a persistent black market. Complete, year\u2011end data will be available in February.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Colorado marijuana sales hit $1B as Trump shifts policy<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2458899\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash; In 2025, Coloradans spent upwards of $1 billion on legal marijuana. That generated almost $200 million in tax and fee revenue for the state, according to monthly data published by the Colorado Department of Revenue.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the year, the department anticipates Colorado will surpass $1 billion in tax and fee revenue on marijuana sales.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4364447\/judge-rules-trump-administration-can-share-illegal-immigrant-medicaid-data\/\">Federal judge rules Trump administration can share illegal immigrants&#8217; Medicaid data with ICE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4362505\/health-insurers-drift-leftward-campaign-donations-seek-sway-gop\/\">Health insurers drift leftward in campaign donations even as they seek to sway GOP<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4362665\/hhs-investigation-seattle-childrens-hospital-transgender-surgeries\/\">HHS launches investigation into Seattle Children&#8217;s Hospital over transgender surgeries for minors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Colorado&rsquo;s world-class marijuana industry drives out criminals and cartels and is supporting Colorado businesses and jobs while driving revenue for school construction,&rdquo; Colorado Gov. Jared Polis&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovofCO\/status\/2004693761943568540\">posted<\/a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/x.com\/\">x.com<\/a>. &ldquo;This important milestone is one that our state can continue to build on.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Colorado has long been at the forefront of the legalization of marijuana. In 2012, it was the first state in the United States to approve the sale of licensed recreational marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, the state has brought in more than $3 billion dollars in tax and fee revenue from marijuana, while marijuana sales have topped nearly $18 billion.<\/p>\n<p>Heralded as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbo-irs-tax-enforcement-raises-half-of-white-house-estimate\/\" title=\"CBO: IRS ... Enforcement Raises Half of White House Estimate\">major revenue source<\/a> for the state, its tax revenue has been used over the years to help fund infrastructure projects and public schools.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, the state&rsquo;s sales tax sits at 2.9%, the state retail marijuana sales tax at 15%, and the state retail marijuana excise tax at 15%.<\/p>\n<p>Federal policy has been slowly changing to reflect the legalization of marijuana in the majority of states. Just earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/12\/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research\/\">executive order<\/a>&nbsp;reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. This signals a significant shift in the federal government&rsquo;s stance on marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Decades of federal drug control policy have neglected marijuana&rsquo;s medical uses,&rdquo; the order said. &ldquo;The federal government&rsquo;s long delay in recognizing the medical use of marijuana does not serve the Americans who report health benefits from the medical use of marijuana to ease chronic pain and other various medically recognized ailments.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Polis&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colorado.gov\/governor\/news\/governor-polis-green-light-rescheduling-cannabis-smart-policy-long-overdue\">applauded<\/a>&nbsp;this decision, calling it &ldquo;long overdue.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s far past time for the federal government to catch up to Colorado and many other states and get rid of arcane federal policies on cannabis that aren&rsquo;t based in reality and hurt Colorado small businesses and public safety,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;For years Colorado has been a national leader in smart and safe cannabis policy that has virtually eliminated illegal markets, ensured safe use, and generated over a billion dollars for education. Colorado&rsquo;s cannabis industry is the gold standard ensuring that products are safe and regulated.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Not everyone is happy with Trump&rsquo;s order, though, as&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denvergazette.com\/2025\/12\/26\/editorial-polis-impaired-judgment-on-pot\/\">concerns<\/a>&nbsp;especially grow about high-potency THC products.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Trump administration has declared a literal war on drugs, saying that fentanyl is a &lsquo;weapon of mass destruction,&rsquo; while at the same time potentially making marijuana more accessible by loosening federal restrictions,&rdquo; Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, posted in response to the order&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tperkins\/status\/2001370815288279229\">on x.com<\/a>. &ldquo;Colorado, which legalized marijuana in 2012, has become a case study of the consequences: an increase in traffic deaths, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-irreversible-consequences-of-school-closures\/\" title=\"The Irreversible Consequences of School Closures\">mental health concerns<\/a>, and emergency room visits, workplace safety issues, and a growth in the black market.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Complete data on Colorado marijuana sales for the year will be available in February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colorado pot sales top $1B as federal policy shifts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2526889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP20058804178672.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[69358,6024,69737],"class_list":["post-2526887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-cannabis-industry","tag-colorado","tag-marijuana-sales"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP20058804178672.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2526887"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2526892,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526887\/revisions\/2526892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2526889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2526887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2526887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2526887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}