High earnings

The Colorado Department of Revenue has generated more than $1 billion in revenue from $6.56 billion in recreational marijuana sales, reports Big Think.

The revenue, coming from taxes, licenses and fees, helps fund public education programs and health services throughout the state.

“[The marijuana] industry is helping grow our economy by creating jobs and generating valuable revenue that is going towards preventing youth consumption, protecting public health and safety and investing in public school construction,” Governor Jared Polis said in a statement.

Last month, Polis signed two bills that legalized cannabis delivery services and social-use areas, which will be “kind of like cigar lounges, which also help get the smell out of neighborhoods,” Polis said.

Colorado currently has nearly 3,000 licensed marijuana businesses, which have sold a total of US$ 6.56 billion in marijuana products since January 2014.