Washington Pot Sales Hit $3.8M

Pot smokers in Washington propelled the state’s first month of legal marijuana sales to just under $3.8 million, meaning more than $1 million in state taxes, the state reported Friday. Licenses have been issued to about 40 stores, though only 18 sold marijuana in July and 16 have reported August sales. “It’s off to a healthy start, considering that the system isn’t fully up and running yet,” said a spokesman for the Washington Liquor Control Board. For comparison, Colorado collected close to $2 million in excise and sales taxes in its first month of retail marijuana sales.