Unlawful public consumption was up 242% over 2022 to 89. Possession charges were up 75% over 2022 to 63. Cultivation arrests remained steady from 2022 at four. Arrests for smoking marijuana in the park increased 50% to three. Driving under the influence of cannabis arrests spiked slightly from 2022 to 1,191.
Marijuana arrests lopsided
For years, marijuana arrests nationally were comprised of mostly Black people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Cities that allow and regulate marijuana, like Denver, have tried to right that wrong by offering people of color special incentives to become involved in the marijuana business.
“In many ways, the City and County of Denver and the state of Colorado pioneered the development of a regulatory framework for adult-use marijuana,” according to the report. “But one of the shortcomings of this framework was its initial failure to address social equity for those most harmed by decades of marijuana prohibition.”
Marijuana revenue, seizures declines
A breakdown of the races of people arrested for marijuana related offenses in 2023 was not available from police over the holiday weekend. But the arrests are up while marijuana receipts are down in Denver, the report explains. Recreational sales dipped 14% in 2023, to $334.7 million in receipts, according to the report. Medical sales dipped 12% to about $117.7 million in receipts.
This is the second consecutive year that revenue has declined, the report stated. Compared to pre-pandemic revenue (2019), total revenue from marijuana in 2023 is down 20%, or $60 million, the report explained.
Processing of illegal marijuana by police also plummeted in the city in 2023, according to the report, from 2,435 pounds in 2022 to 266 pounds in 2023.
Denver makes social equity a priority
The report states that since 2021, “the City and County of Denver has made social equity a top priority for the modern era of marijuana regulation with an overhaul in rules and regulations. This included exclusive licensing for most marijuana business licenses until 2027, reduced licensing fees, and funding for technical assistance programming for social equity applicants. Business licenses for marijuana transporters, the only business type in Denver authorized to conduct marijuana delivery, have permanent license exclusivity designated for people who qualify as a social equity applicant.”
Breakdown of tax money spent
Where did all the tax money go in 2023? From an estimated $27 million raked in from taxes and fees, almost $8 million went to homelessness services, according to the report. Another $7.5 million went to affordable housing, the Malone Fund received $3.7 million, $3.3 million went to education, $2.4 million was spent on regulation and $2.1 million on enforcement.
The Malone Fund comes from 1% of the existing special retail marijuana sales tax to “support businesses that have traditionally lacked access to capital and other resources for growth,” according to the report. “The fund focuses on strengthening Denver’s economic diversity while providing quality job opportunities, ensuring a pipeline of entrepreneurs and small business startups, and creating generational wealth for Denver’s business owners who have historically lacked investment opportunities.”
I’m just going to say. You give people who had no problem breaking the law access to the keys to the castle. They are going to find a way to “think outside the box”. Guaranteed, the marijuana is still being sold, just off the books.
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