COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) -One year after voters approved recreational marijuana sales, Colorado Springs is now seeing millions of dollars come in and city leaders say that money is starting to make an impact.
According to the Colorado Springs Cannabis Association, the city brought in about $3.8 million in 2025 from recreational marijuana sales. The revenue comes from a 5% special marijuana tax approved by voters in 2024, along with standard city sales tax and a portion of state tax shared back to the city.
City leaders say the money is set aside for specific priorities, including public safety, mental health services and programs supporting veterans.
One of the most immediate uses: bringing back the city’s fire academy. The program had previously been cut due to budget constraints but is now training 36 new firefighters.
Officials with the Colorado Springs Fire Department say the funding is helping maintain staffing levels and ensure crews can respond safely to emergencies.
“The impact it has is we have a minimum staffing of four personnel on every apparatus… this allows us to maintain our staffing levels and ultimately provide a safer community,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tim DeLeon.
City leaders say additional funding could also support police technology, downtown safety efforts and behavioral health services as more revenue comes in.
Still, the issue remains divided. Voters approved recreational marijuana sales in 2024, but a competing measure that would have banned those sales failed, showing not everyone in the community supports the expansion.
For now, city leaders say they will continue working with city council to decide how future marijuana tax revenue is spent as the program grows.
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