Colorado to fund public services with cannabis tax Colorado will become the first state in America to tax the sale of marijuana when the drug becomes legal next year. Under new piece legalisation cannabis sales will have a 25% levy placed on them to pay for public school construction and the marijuana industry costs. Brian Vicente, Chair of the Marijuana Tax Campaign told BBC Radio 5 live's Up All Night: "It has taken the money out of the hands of drug cartels, moved it behind the counter... and then the tax revenue actually benefits the state."