Tax profits from selling legalised marijuana in the US have gone up in smoke as suppliers have sold less of the drug than expected.
Four states have approved laws allowing recreational use of cannabis from controlled suppliers with two putting the measures in to action.
In Colorado, the state government expected to raise a $100 million windfall in taxes, but the cash has failed to materialise.
So far, around $58 million has been collected.
Supporters also trumpeted the side effects of legalising the drug – hoping the move would create jobs and bring in tourists, but these benefits have failed to meet expectations as well.
One of the unforeseen consequences was buying legal marijuana involves some paperwork hassles. Even though the drug is cheaper over the counter than on the black market, criminals supplying the drug are still in business as their service is seen as an easier option by users.
Green economy
Nevertheless, the state has licensed 16,000 people to work in growing, processing and selling cannabis.
A study by a user group also reckons around 90% of sales are to tourists in the major cities, but less than 50% in more rural areas.
Washington is the other state where cannabis is legal over the counter, and research returns similar figures to those in Colorado.
Oregon and Alaska approved state laws allowing recreational use of the drug in November.
Moves are afoot in several other states to approve the drug – including California, which as home to 40 million people is the most populous state. A vote is expected there on decriminalising the drug in 2016.
Illinois, Delaware, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New Hampshire and Hawaii allow medical use, while Washington DC has voted to approve recreational use but the law is blocked by a legal challenge.
Legal high
Keeping up with where cannabis is legal in the US is complicated, as each state takes a different view.
Researchers who have looked at the cannabis market in the US also suspect that many users are exploiting tax differentials to make a black market profit.
The typical state tax on purchasing medicinal marijuana is 2.5%, while the black market price is significantly higher than over the counter sales.
As a result, many medicinal purchasers are thought to be picking up their stash and selling to criminal gangs or direct to other users at a profit.
A card from a doctor allowing medicinal purchase in Colorado costs just $29.
