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Ten years ago, there was no model for state-regulated, adult-use marijuana.
Colorado had to build its own model from scratch, with regulations for the alcohol and tobacco markets as the only guide.
In the decade since, nearly half of all states have legalized adult-use cannabis – many of them following Colorado’s example. Cannabis policy improvements
Some emerging adult-use markets such as Minnesota and New York are working to improve on the initial weak points of Colorado’s model, such as its lack of social equity.
Additionally, policymakers appear more invested in helping cannabis business owners today than they have been in the past.
But even those evolved approaches are still proving themselves out.
So, what can other states take from the good, the bad and the ugly of Colorado cannabis?
And how have declining sales in the country’s most established recreational marijuana market changed the way emerging markets are approaching cannabis regulations?To answer those questions, it’s important to understand why Colorado structured its marijuana industry the way it did – and how that model has since been replicated or altered, and why. Colorado model If cannabis had truly been structured like the alcohol markets in 18 states, then Colorado’s task force on the implementation of Amendment 64 might have suggested the creation of a state marijuana monopoly, which the committee ultimately decided was against the spirit of the legislation.Instead of using a monopoly to artificially inflate prices and curtail both illicit competition and consumption, Colorado implemented a 2.9% general sales tax on medical marijuana products as well as a 15% excise tax and 15% special sales tax on retail cannabis.The distribution of those funds into state and local coffers for public school construction and other services won over skeptics and conservative stakeholders.In many regards, that approach was a success. Cannabis taxes By 2021, cannabis […]
A decade later, is Colorado’s regulated marijuana model still a national leader?