Colorado cannabis sales set a record yet again in July, eclipsing $200 million in a single month for the first time.
Dispensaries sold $183,106,003 in recreational marijuana and $43,268,565 in medical marijuana in July, for a combined $226,374,568 in revenue, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. That’s up 13.8% from June, another record-setting month when the industry raked in nearly $199 million.
So far in 2020, consumers have purchased more than $1.2 billion worth of cannabis products and the state has collected $203 million in taxes.
In letter to Rep. Jason Crow, governor asks Congress to reconsider prohibiting cannabis from applying for stimulus
Colorado’s cannabis industry is allowed to remain open to provide “critical” services during the coronavirus pandemic, but because marijuana is a federally controlled substance, dispensaries and other businesses are ineligible to receive stimulus funds to help offset the economic impacts caused by COVID-19.
Many say they’re struggling.
Gov. Jared Polis, however, is hoping to lend a helping hand. On Monday, Polis sent a letter to Rep. Jason Crow, D-Aurora, a member of the House Small Business Committee, urging the committee to reconsider allowing cannabis businesses to apply for federal aid.
Dispensaries say this trend could reshape how customers buy marijuana in the future.
Americans can purchase pet supplies, medication and even alcohol online, so why not marijuana?
That thought is crossing many Coloradans’ minds as calls for the general public to practice social distancing have spurred a trend in online shopping for cannabis products.
On March 16, Terrapin Care Station, which operates six dispensaries throughout the Front Range, saw an 1,800% increase in online sales over the same day a week prior, according to Communications Director Peter Marcus. Historically, online ordering accounted for a fraction of the company’s sales, as consumers preferred to peruse cannabis selections in person to decide what to buy.
“We want this to be a model in craft brewing and cannabis,” Gov. Jared Polis says.
In an effort to make Colorado’s cannabis industry more eco-friendly, the state’s health department and energy office launched two new pilot programs Wednesday focused on reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency at local cultivations.
Both programs support Gov. Jared Polis’ mission to cut greenhouse gasses 50% by 2030.
For the first program, the Carbon Dioxide Reuse Project, the Denver Beer Co. is partnering with the Clinic dispensary to recycle carbon emissions. Brewing a 120-barrel batch of beer produces enough carbon dioxide naturally through fermentation to fill a 500-pound vessel, said Charlie Berger, co-founder of Denver Beer Co.
