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“States that have legal marijuana continue to see a thriving black market and increasing rates of youth drug use, providing evidence that this theory of “tax and regulate” does not fare well in real life."

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“Those who have been following the legalization of marijuana have likely heard the familiar industry refrain that commercializing the drugs will generate a mound of tax revenue for state governments starved for cash. As legal weed marks a decade, the data tells a much different tale.

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This trend is not unique to Colorado, as marijuana accounts for a nearly

negligible share of budgets in states across the nation and is outweighed

by numerous costs.

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Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper deserves credit for his honesty

a decade ago when he described marijuana tax revenue as “a drop in

the bucket,” adding that “it’s not going to pay for early childhood

education or solve any social ill.” His candor was drowned out by

the industry’s promises of a windfall.”

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Debunking the myth: Every dollar of marijuana tax revenue

is associated with $4.50 in costs - Washington Times

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IMPACT ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH:

  1. "Teen marijuana use increases risk of psychosis by 400%"

  2. "30% of marijuana users have some form of marijuana use disorder"

  3. "The average potency of marijuana flower increased from 3.75% THC
    in 1995 to 15.8% in 2018."

  4. "Colorado saw a 46% increase in hospitalizations due to Cannabis
    Hyperemesis Syndrome within five years of legalizing recreational
    marijuana."

  5. "Persistent cannabis use was associated with a significant decline in
    IQ, particularly when use began in adolescence."

IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY:

  1. "Compared with never users, participants who used high-potency
    cannabis daily had 4x higher odds of psychosis."

  2. "Colorado’s crime rate increased by 11% in the years following marijuana legalization."

  3. "California’s black market for marijuana is still three times larger than the legal market, despite legalization."

IMPACT ON ECONOMY:

  1. "For every $1 in marijuana tax revenue, states incur $4.50 in public health and safety costs." 

2.    "Legalization fuels black markets. Cartels thrive. Violence escalates."

IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT:

1.    "Marijuana farming has destroyed 1.5 million acres of forest."

2.    "Illegal marijuana grows are draining rivers and poisoning wildlife."

3.    "Marijuana cultivation uses an average of 1.8 gallons of water per plant per day, depleting local water resources."

In looking into the states that have legalized recreational marijuana, the COSTS are becoming unmanageable and insurmountable and not worth the $1 in tax revenue. Tell your legislator to think twice.

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