One Year of Legal Cannabis Has Generated 70 million USD in Tax Revenue for the State of Washington

The overall assessment of recreational marijuana legalisation in Washington a year after cannabis stores opened could not be more positive, and not only for cannabis lovers, but for all the state's citizens.

The data released by the Washington State Liquor Control Board, the body charged with supervising this industry, is clear: marijuana stores earned more than 257 milliondollars (248 million euros) from the sale of cannabis. Between local sales and other taxes, the State of Washington and local governments will take in 70 million dollars (63 million euros) in marijuana-related taxes, according to the Associated Press.

This figure is practically double that forecast by the authorities, which had predicted some 36 million dollars (32.5 million euros) in revenue from taxes on cannabis sales. 

“It is likely that these impressive numbers will catch the attention of legislators in other states, which could use [marijuana] to trim their budget deficits,” explained Tom Angell, President of the organisation Marijuana Majority.

Angell has stated that this extra money could be used for health, education and street repairs, instead of going directly into the pockets of drug traffickers. “And this is just the first year. We expect to see the generation of more profits and the creation of more jobs in the coming years,” reported this cannabis advocate.

The citizens of Colorado and Washington voted in favour of legalising recreational marijuana in 2012, although in Colorado stores opened first, in January of 2014. In this state the revenue from taxes on the sale of marijuana has already come to 44 million dollars (40 million euros). This is money that, without a doubt, has been much appreciated, and may set an example for other regions in the United States. Legalising cannabis is profitable–it's a proven fact.