Colorado has generated nearly $19 billion in legal marijuana sales since recreational stores opened in 2014, with more than $740 million sold during the first seven months of 2026, according to new figures released by the Colorado Department of Revenue.
The report, released October 15, shows that medical and recreational marijuana sales totaled $111,212,979 in July, an increase of 5.3% from the $105,592,541 recorded in June. The latest figures bring Colorado’s cumulative marijuana sales to $18,959,563,281, putting the state just $40.4 million away from reaching the $19 billion milestone.
For 2026, marijuana sales have reached $740,950,923 through July. That compares with $774,660,013 during the same period in 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of approximately 4.4%. July sales were also 3.9% below the $115.7 million recorded in July 2025.
Meanwhile, Colorado collected $19,322,443 in marijuana taxes and licensing fees during August, up from $18,980,768 in July. Total marijuana-related revenue for the first eight months of 2026 reached $152,232,548, bringing cumulative collections since February 2014 to $3,262,200,388.
The year-to-date tax and fee total is approximately 4.7% below the $159.8 million collected during the first eight months of 2025, reflecting the continued challenges facing one of the country’s oldest recreational marijuana markets.
Colorado recorded its highest annual marijuana sales in 2021, when purchases reached approximately $2.23 billion. Sales have since declined, falling to $1.32 billion in 2025, although the state continues to generate more than $100 million in monthly marijuana purchases.
Colorado’s marijuana revenue comes from several sources, including the state’s 2.9% sales tax on marijuana sold in stores, a 15% retail marijuana sales tax and a 15% excise tax on wholesale recreational marijuana transactions. Additional revenue comes from marijuana business licensing and application fees.
Colorado voters legalized recreational marijuana in November 2012, and the state’s first licensed adult-use stores opened on January 1, 2014.
