In November 2015, voters in Pueblo County — two hours south of Denver — passed a ballot measure, a marijuana excise tax that would be levied in the transaction between the cultivation entity and the store. And the primary beneficiaries are the future college students in the county.

When county commissioners initially met to determine whether to put the measure to voters, local retail marijuana growers showed up… to voice support!

“Contrary to popular belief we definitely do want to see a positive impact from our industry in the community,” said Richard Quessel of the Southern Colorado Growers Association, “and we feel this is a great responsible way to write that up.”

Under the plan detailed by Commissioner Sal Pace, the tax will generate $3.5 million a year in the near future and half of that would go toward a scholarship fund that would help defray college expenses for county graduates who attended either Colorado State University-Pueblo or Pueblo Community College.

Pace has said that the proposal is intended to “give Pueblo kids a boost.”