Pueblo county first in Colorado to report pot taxes

A southern Colorado county with two recreational marijuana stores is the first in the state to announce tax totals from the new industry

Pueblo County says Tuesday that its two shops had about $1 million in total sales in January, producing about $56,000 in local sales taxes.

So far, it’s the only place between Denver and the New Mexico state line that allows recreational pot stores.

County Clerk Gilbert “Bo” Ortiz projects the marijuana industry will generate roughly $670,000 in new tax revenue for his county this year.

Colorado has more than 160 licensed recreational pot stores, all of whom had to report sales taxes Feb. 20. Pueblo County is the first to make the sales tax totals public. State totals are expected early next month.