This Colorado County Aims To Fund Students’ College With Marijuana Taxes

Credit: Marijuana.com
Credit: Marijuana.com



The public’s opinion on marijuana has dramatically transformed in recent years. As news has spread of the herb’s various benefits, more and more people have started supporting the recreational legalization of it.

And why wouldn’t they? In one month, the state of Colorado sold $34 million in marijuana: $3.4 million went to schools, and crime decreased by 15%. And when you hear of people healing themselves of debilitating disease through a cannabis oil regime and healthy diet, you have to wonder why the extract is not easily accessible everywhere.

Regardless of politics and Big Pharma’s agenda(s), one county in Colorado (one of the few US states which have already legalized the recreational use of pot) has just done something extraordinary.

CNN News reports that beginning in 2017, high school graduates in Pueblo county, Colorado will be able to go to college via scholarship funded by a marijuana tax.

On Tuesday, the same day the U.S. Senate voted to make medical marijuana more accessible to veterans, 60% of Pueblo County voters approved a measure that will phase in an increase in taxes – 5% by 2020 – on marijuana growers. This tax will fund college scholarships and other community projects.

Incredibly, $3.5 million is expected to be raised with this tax increase, and at least half the revenue will go toward funding scholarships for high school graduates in Pueblo to attend college.

Depending upon the success of this program, it will likely be expanded in future years.

Said Paris Carmichael, a spokesperson for Pueblo County:

“The whole point of the scholarship program was to make higher education a reality for families who can’t afford to send their kids to school because of debt.” 

This is the first tax of its kind, but no doubt other states will adopt similar in the future as use of the herb use of the herb becomes less taboo.

According to the news source, the main challenge for the county now will be “how well Pueblo can manage educating minors in staying away from recreational marijuana and encourage the growth and development of that industry [at the same time.”

What are your thoughts? Comment below and share this news. 


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