Colorado Marijuana Tax Revenue Breaks Annual Record

Colorado’s annual marijuana tax revenue haul has already reached a new high for the seventh straight year, according to the latest data from the state Department of Revenue.

The DOR’s latest monthly report on marijuana tax revenue shows that November’s $32.5 million in combined marijuana taxes and fees pushed 2021’s overall total past $392.8 million. That’s nearly $5.4 million more than the previous record, made in 2020 — with one month left to spare.

Colorado collects four different forms of marijuana taxes and licensing fees from the legal marijuana industry: a 15 percent tax on recreational pot sales, a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale marijuana, a 2.9 percent sales tax on recreational and medical marijuana purchases, and various licensing and application fees that state-approved marijuana businesses must pay.

According to DOR records, this year’s averages in each of the four marijuana tax and fee categories are higher than those in 2020. But despite 2021 already being the highest year yet for pot tax revenue, the state hasn’t passed last year’s sales figures, judging from DOR data.