Legalised Marijuana Costs in Colorado

Legalised marijuana in Colorado has driven a global conversation about drug policy, tax revenue, and the social ramifications that follow. But beyond the headlines on record sales, what are the actual costs, both financial and societal, of this new industry? Drawing on research commissioned by the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, this post examines not just the economic benefits, but the overlooked and often underestimated costs of Colorado’s approach to commercial marijuana. Whether you support or challenge legalisation, it’s clear that understanding the full picture is crucial when weighing policy decisions for Colorado and beyond.

Legalised Marijuana Costs: What’s Gained and What’s Spent?

Colorado’s commercial marijuana industry is often lauded for the substantial tax revenue it brings to the state. Jobs, business development, and a legal marketplace all make compelling headlines. Yet, every new policy carries unseen consequences, and commercial marijuana is no exception.

Remarkably, the official report finds that for every $1 gained in tax revenue, Colorado spends about $4.50 dealing with the fallout. When evaluating the true effects of legalised marijuana costs, this number is vital. The social and economic burdens are widespread, ranging from healthcare interventions to increased educational and law enforcement expenses.

Economic Gains from Legalising Marijuana

Tax Revenue and Sales: Colorado’s marijuana sector generates significant tax income, playing a visible role in state finances.
Job Creation: New businesses create employment opportunities in retail, cultivation, and distribution.
Boosted Local Economies: Many towns have benefited from increased tourism and consumer spending linked to legal marijuana sales.

The Hidden Costs Behind the Revenue

Healthcare Expenditure: The largest cost driver, healthcare services must treat marijuana-related illnesses, injuries, and accidents.
Education Systems Burden: Schools face new challenges, particularly from higher rates of high school dropouts with links to marijuana use.
Social Services and Law Enforcement: More resources are needed for substance abuse prevention programmes, crime prevention, and public safety.

Colorado Marijuana Effects on Health, Education, and Safety

Health System Pressures

One key finding details the overwhelming pressure on Colorado’s healthcare infrastructure:

Calls to Poison Control concerning marijuana increased sharply following legalisation.
Heavy users face annual healthcare costs averaging £2,200, while even light users incur over £600 a year.
About 15 people each year are severely burned due to marijuana use.
Evidence links frequent marijuana use with increased sedentary behaviour, raising related medical expenses.

The report highlights troubling links:

Marijuana use is more common among those with lower levels of educational attainment.
Since legalisation, use has risen among both college graduates and those with less education, but remains highest in the latter group.
Studies indicate that those who start using marijuana before age 18 experience greater loss of cognitive ability.

These educational consequences are more than statistics; they shape future societal and economic potential.

Traffic safety is a major concern within Colorado marijuana effects. The research discovered:

69% of marijuana users admit to having driven after consuming the drug, while 27% do so daily.
DUIs involving marijuana only approached £19 million in costs for 2016.
The report raises questions about the role of THC in fatal crashes, an issue requiring further investigation.

Environmental and Societal Consequences of Commercial Marijuana

Ecological Footprint

Legalised marijuana costs extend beyond social and health-related challenges to the environment:

The industry’s energy needs in 2016 equalled the yearly usage of 32,355 homes.
Legal marijuana resulted in nearly 400,000 pounds of CO2 emissions and over 18.78 million pieces of plastic packaging in one year.

The findings also show:

Marijuana use often correlates with increased alcohol and other substance use.
Frequent users are typically less physically active, impacting both personal and public health costs.
Calls for deeper analysis relate to THC’s presence in suicide cases, raising serious concerns about preventable deaths.

Are We Seeing the Whole Picture on Legalised Marijuana Costs?

This data, drawn from QREM, a respected third-party evaluator, is admittedly conservative. Many costs remain unquantified. Most notably, potential long-term health effects mirror tobacco’s history, where public understanding of risks evolved only after decades of research and suffering. This study does not attempt to price the value of lost lives, but rightly insists that we must keep asking difficult questions about preventable deaths linked to marijuana.

The Case for Ongoing Research and Responsible Policy

Colorado’s experiment with commercial marijuana provides a cautionary tale. The economic and social costs presented here are, without doubt, just the start. Much remains unknown, particularly of risks that may not surface for another generation.

If society wants to continue the legalisation trend, it must also stand ready to invest in prevention, education, and research to understand and reduce these harms. Policymakers, parents, and public health professionals cannot afford to focus only on tax revenue and sales reports. The real story is told in the classrooms, hospitals, roads, and communities throughout Colorado.

Source: Centennial