Colorado sees record-breaking pot sales in 2017

Colorado is breaking another record in marijuana sales after the state sold $1.5 billion in cannabis products last year.

The Colorado Dept. of Revenue released a report showing 2017 saw an increase of about $200 million in sales from 2016 and an increase of $500 million from 2015.

“I think because we were the first state to legalize both recreational and medical, we are automatically on the forefront of the industry,” said Joseph Fisher, the general manager for Emerald City Wellness.

Fisher said the data goes along with sales from his shop.

“We’ve noticed the biggest jump in sales over the past two years,” he said. “It just continues to grow.”

Recreational marijuana sales make up the biggest chunk totaling $1.09 billion. The next portion is from medical marijuana sales totaling $416.52 million. The state saw $247 million of revenue from taxes and fees.

Despite the substantial revenue increase, pot shop owners voiced their concerns about that number continuing to grow in the future after Attorney General Jeff Sessions made an announcement in January on possibly enforcing federal marijuana laws in states that have the drug legal.

“Recreational marijuana could be on the fringe, but I don’t think medical marijuana is going anywhere,” Fisher said.

However, the Teller County Sheriff said despite the spike in revenue, he’s concerned about the growth of violent crime in the trade of illegal marijuana.

“We seized $1.8 million worth of illegal marijuana in just one month this past year,” he said.

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