Tax revenues from legal pot could reach $5-billion a year: economist

Oft-touted law-enforcement savings from pot legalization may not materialize due to ongoing international obligations
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Thursday, January 28, 2016

canada-marijuana-thumbA new report from CIBC World Markets says Canada’s federal and provincial governments could reap as much as $5-billion annually in tax revenues from the sale of legal marijuana. CIBC economist Avery Shenfeld crunched the numbers using current estimates of Canadian recreational pot consumption, the revenue experience in U.S. states that have legalized and other factors – such as prevailing “sin tax” rates on alcohol and tobacco. (See also: Legal pot has its benefits, but little economic impact)