Colorado is consuming a lot more marijuana that experts predicted, according to a new report from the state’s
Department of Revenue.
The agency’s Marijuana Enforcement Division estimated much of the usage is coming from regular users who smoke the weed every day and, to a lesser extent, from out-of-state marijuana tourists.
Colorado’s official new estimate of total marijuana demand is 121.4 tons per year — 31 percent higher than a previous state assessment, 89 percent higher than a study by the Colorado Futures Center, and 111 percent higher than an older study by the Colorado Center for Law and Policy.
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“The primary difference is caused by much heavier dosage amounts consumed by the state’s ‘heavy user’ population – those who consume marijuana on a daily basis,” the study found.
The Marijuana Enforcement Division found about 21.8% of state users report consuming marijuana almost daily, accounting for 66.9% of the total demand in the state.
“The drug use literature shows that heavy users consume doses that are three times larger per day than regular or light users.”
The state report does not refer to the heavy daily users as addicts. Inquisitr reported that taxes and fees from cannabis will generate $134 million for Colorado in 2014, compared to $40 million for alcohol taxes.
The study found retail demand, as opposed to medical sales, is derived primarily from out-of-state visitors and from consumers who previously purchased from the Colorado black and gray markets.
“Colorado does not have Amsterdam style ‘coffee shops,’ and it is illegal to consume marijuana in areas where most visitors may be, such as rental cars, hotels, and public spaces. Despite these restrictions, a significant share of retail sales appears to come from visitor purchases,” the report says.
The state study used sales tax receipts, point of sale data and tourism office information to estimate that purchases by out-of-state visitors represent about 44 percent of metro area retail sales and about 90 percent of retail sales in heavily visited mountain communities.
On July 8, Washington became the second state to make recreational marijuana sales legal. Washington's Liquor Control Board issued 24 retail marijuana business licenses ahead of the launch. The state licensed about 80 marijuana producers and processors in March, but there were predictions that not enough time had been allowed to cultivate enough cannabis for the retail debut, raising the possibility of shortages.
"Supply is going to be tight as this market launches," predicted Brian Smith, communications director for the Liquor Control Board. “And just like Colorado did when it first opened up, it had some shortages, but Washington's supply system is very robust and in a little bit of time all those suppliers will be feeding into the retail chain and there will be a lot."
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