Since the state of Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, many people ask the question, where does all the tax money go from pot sales?
Denver provides one "concrete" answer.
"We've got more money this year and we're gonna pave more streets because of it," Nancy Kuhn, Denver Public Works spokesperson, said.
Kuhn says her department received an additional $1.2 million of marijuana tax revenue.
"With that money this year, we're going to be able to pave at least another 50 blocks of streets," Kuhn said.
Public improvements and an answer to that question that residents like Nancy Fabozzi have asked for years. Where does marijuana tax revenue go?
"I wasn't a fan of the marijuana legislation, but as long as it's bringing in all this money, we have to put it to work," Fabozzi said.
Mayor Michael Hancock believes the city needs to be smart about how it uses marijuana tax revenue considering that other states are developing their own legalized pot industries.
"We don't know how that's going to impact our revenue flow and so we only invest in one-time projects as best we can," Hancock said.
Hancock says the city receives around $14 million each year from pot sales. Most of the money is used for regulating the industry and enforcement of the law. But, funds have also been used for education and building community centers in addition to road improvements this year.
"I think it's been very methodical and analytical, but yet smart investment of our marijuana monies," Hancock said.
The additional funding increases the city's paving budget by 4.6 percent to a total of $27 million, which includes about $4.5 million from a measure approved by voters in 2012.
"When we get extra money, it means we can improve more streets, provide a smoother ride for residents," Kuhn said.
Fabozzi is glad to see some progress from a policy she did not support especially in the revamping of infrastructure.
"Our city was not built for the influx of population that we've had and so we need to figure it out pretty quickly," Fabozzi said.
That's why Hancock applauds the plan of pot money for potholes.
"We've always said we'll use the revenue to enhance the quality of life of the people who live here," Hancock said.
