Pueblo County: Marijuana-funded scholarship program likely world’s first

Pueblo County says voters made history Tuesday night when they approved a ballot initiative that will create college scholarships with tax proceeds from legal marijuana.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Pueblo County Issue 1B was passing with 60% of voters saying “yes” to the plan.

Beginning in 2017, every high school graduate from the City or County of Pueblo will automatically be eligible for a college scholarship created by Pueblo County’s new marijuana excise tax fund.

“It’s due time that we make college affordable for everyone in our community,” Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace said.

The ballot measure proposed a five percent excise tax on recreational marijuana grows from Pueblo County and that on an annual basis, no less than 50 percent of the revenue of the excise tax shall be placed in the cash fund for the purpose of providing college scholarships to all high schools in the City and County of Pueblo. During the first year the tax is in effect, 2017, the scholarships would be available to new graduates attending a public college or university in Pueblo County. The program may be expanded in future years depending on revenue.

In addition to providing scholarships, the remainder of the excise tax revenue will be used on projects to improve the Pueblo community. The identified projects in the measure must be completed before any other expenditures are made from the excise tax revenue. The named projects included:

Colorado State Fair Streetscape Refurbishment
Medical Marijuana Academic Research and Marijuana Impact grant Feasibility study to Connect Amtrak’s SW Chief to Pueblo Safe Route to Schools: North Mesa, South Mesa and Sage Elementary & Trail Master Plan Pueblo Historic Courthouse Dome Refurbishment Confluence Park County Outdoor Recreation Pavilion U.S. Highway 50 feasibility study Arts Center funding for long term planning feasibility studies and development of the atrium between Helen T. White and Buell Children’s Museum Replace carts and expand clubhouse at Desert Hawk Golf Course in Pueblo West Beulah Elementary School Playground enhancement Pueblo Reservoir bike and hiking trail repair, trail sign improvements Create Pueblo County Energy Efficiency Department and solar improvements Zinno Water District Area Water Supply needs