Q&A on the News

Q: What is the average cost of an ounce of pot in Colorado? What are the size increments that you can buy? Is there a tax on it? What is the percent? — Kathy Piska, Marietta

A: An ounce of legalized marijuana (including taxes) costs between $300 and $400 an ounce in Colorado. The price of medical marijuana, which isn't taxed, is about $200, Taylor West, the deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, told Q&A on the News in an email. The cost of recreational, or nonmedical, marijuana doubled shortly after stores began selling it Jan. 1. There is a special state sales tax of 25 percent on recreational marijuana, in addition to the standard 2.9 percent state sales tax. "Prices are definitely still in the more volatile early stages, with supply occasionally running a bit tight, and still a fairly small number of licensed adult-use stores," West wrote. "As more supply becomes available and as more stores get adult-use licenses over the next few months, it's likely that prices will drop some." Colorado residents (21 years old and older) can buy up to 1 ounce per purchase, but people from out of state are limited to a quarter of an ounce per purchase. "A common purchase increment is an eighth (of an ounce), which is the equivalent of somewhere around 7-15 joints," West wrote. "You might think of it like buying a bottle of liquor — it's an amount that a moderate consumer would consume over an extended period of days (or even weeks, if you're only consuming occasionally)." It's illegal to transport marijuana out of Colorado.

Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).