First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyColorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval of any new taxes. Prior to voter approval, it also requires that voters receive estimates of state spending without new taxes and the new tax revenue. Proposition AA, which authorized the 10 percent sales tax and the 15 percent...
Three state taxes apply to marijuana, but medical and retail marijuana are taxed differently. Both medical and retail marijuana are subject to the 2.9 percent state sales tax, which is applied to most purchases in the state. Additionally, retail marijuana is subject to a 10 percent sales tax,...
Colorado has a complex framework of laws regulating the manufacture, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcohol in the state. This issue brief outlines Colorado liquor laws; the regulatory structure; government revenue streams; and the role of state and local governments in licensing and...
This issue brief discusses the various offenses related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Colorado, and their associated criminal and administrative penalties.
This issue brief provides an overview of marijuana tax revenue. Three state taxes apply to marijuana, with medical and retail marijuana taxed differently. Both medical and retail marijuana are subject to the existing 2.9 percent state sales tax, which is applied to most purchases in the state....
This document provides a summary of major marijuana legislation considered by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session.
In 2000, voters approved Amendment 20, allowing the possession and use of medical marijuana in Colorado. In 2012, voters approved Amendment 64, legalizing marijuana for use by adults aged 21 and older. Sales of retail marijuana for adult use began on January 1, 2014.
Senate Bill 16-197, signed into law on June 10, 2016, makes significant changes to laws regulating the retail sale of fermented malt beverages (3.2 percent alcohol by weight beer, commonly known as 3.2 beer), full-strength beer, wine, and spirits for off-premises consumption. This issue brief...
In FY 2020-21, Colorado received $314.5 million from tobacco-related sources. These include taxes on cigarettes, other tobacco products, and nicotine products and payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. This memorandum describes the sources and...
The regulation of marijuana, both retail and medical, has been the subject of a great deal of public policy debate in recent years at all levels of government. This issue brief examines an overview of retail marijuana regulation in Colorado and summarizes three measures enacted by the General...
Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. In April 2015, the state received $88.1 million. This memorandum presents the distribution of the received payment from 2015 and forecasts payments and distributions through FY 2017...
Colorado voters legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2000 and retail marijuana in 2012 through amendments to the Colorado Constitution. This issue brief provides an overview of current state law and regulations pertaining to medical and retail marijuana, and discusses the role of local...
Presented to the Joint Finance Committee at its January 5, 2017, meeting.
Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. In April 2016, the state received $92.3 million. This memorandum presents the distribution of the 2016 payment and forecasts payments through 2019.
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by Legalized Marijuana Cost-Benefit Analysis Interim Study Committee
Senate Bill 17-267, enacted during the 2017 legislative session, changes many aspects of fiscal policy for the state. This issue brief summarizes the bill’s principal components.
This memorandum presents the impact of Senate Bill 17-267 on special districts that previously assessed sales taxes on retail marijuana transactions.
The memorandum describes how marijuana is taxed and how marijuana tax revenue is distributed. In FY 2016-17, state tax revenue from the marijuana industry totaled $211.1 million. Marijuana tax revenue is deposited in several different accounts. The General Assembly appropriated $100.5 million...
During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to the cleanup of Senate Bill 16-197, liquor licensees’ operations, wine, and higher education campuses.
During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures recommended by an interim committee studying marijuana and measures related to taxes, the gray market, business licensing, the Governor’s Office of Marijuana Coordination, crimes, and private consumption clubs.
Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). In April 2018, the state received $177.3 million, including a one-time payment of $113.3 million pursuant to the Nonparticipating Manufacturers Adjustment Settlement Agreement,...
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered bills relating to the regulation of both medical and recreational marijuana on topics such as taxes, research, use of medical marijuana, and marijuana business licensing.
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several bills to clarify practices related to events at which alcohol is auctioned or sold, redefined Japanese rice wine, and passed additional legislation related to the retail sale of low- and full-strength beer.
This memorandum responds to your request for background information related to the January 1, 2019, transition to full-strength beer.
Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). In April 2018, the state received $177.3 million, including a one‑time payment of $113.3 million pursuant to the Nonparticipating Manufacturers Adjustment Settlement Agreement...