Medical Marijuana Use on the Downturn in Colorado

Here in Colorado, marijuana definitely takes up a good amount of the news cycle.

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In fact, there was just recently a recall for moldy marijuana in multiple cities across the Front Range.

However, while there’s plenty of smokers here in Colorado, it feels like we are unfairly given the title as the “stoner state”, as if that’s all we do here.

If anything, it feels like we’re starting to shake that label a bit.

Denver recently lost its top spot as the weed capital of the country to Portland, Oregon.

Now, even more evidence has been brought to the table that suggests that Coloradans are smoking less and less by the year.

Colorado Tax Data Shows Less Medical Marijuana Use

KDVR took a look at data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and found that the amount of medical marijuana users is lower than it's ever been.
In October of 2014, there were a total of 117,239 registered medical marijuana users. That number now hovers around 65,000.

Colorado has seen a steep decline from last year in terms of medical marijuana tax revenue as well.

Between last January and May, Colorado made $2.39 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana sales.

Now that we’re half way through this year, Colorado has only made $1.5 million in total revenue from medical marijuana.

Marijuana Use as a Whole is on the Decline in Colorado

When it comes to recreational use, sales are also down.

Last year’s sales tax revenue from recreational marijuana totaled $542,744 between January and May.

Within that same time this year, that number was much closer to $503,000.

On the other hand, teenagers are using marijuana less than ever before.

Actually, only 26.3% of high schoolers today have admitted to using marijuana at any point in their lives.

The Colorado Sun reports that is a whole 10% lower than in 2013, the next lowest year.

It would seem the national cliche of all Coloradans being stoners may soon be coming to an end soon.