COLORADO SPRINGS — As the number of medical marijuana shops and dispensary-related crimes in Colorado Springs has fallen over the past five years, medical pot tax revenue in El Paso County has soared.
Data from the city of Colorado Springs, its police department and the Colorado Department of Revenue show interesting trends as the marijuana industry matures amid growing pains that have attracted national attention, including the cash-only nature of the business.
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In June 2010, Colorado Springs had 303 unique addresses or locations associated with medical marijuana licenses. Medical marijuana stores and growers were the targets of burglaries or attempted burglaries 42 times that year.
Now, the city has roughly half as many unique licensed locations and almost nonexistent burglaries.
