A coalition of elected officials and nonprofit organizations is introducing a ballot measure aimed at boosting out-of-school learning opportunities in part by hiking taxes on recreational marijuana sales. 

The ballot initiative would create the Colorado Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress Program, which its supporters estimate would put $150 million annually into: 

The funds for the program would be drawn from a 5 percent tax increase on recreational marijuana sales. A portion of the revenue generated from leases, rentals, royalties and timber sales on state lands would also help fund the program, which would prioritize students from low-income families that would not otherwise be able to participate in the program’s learning opportunities. 

Spokesmen for Boulder-based national cannabis company Terrapin and the Marijuana Industry Group told Colorado Politics their organizations weren’t prepared to take a position on the initiative. 

Truman Bradley, MIG’s executive director, said his organization was broadly supportive of the program’s goal but had not convened its board to review the tax increase. Meanwhile, Peter Marcus of Terrapin raised concerns that increasing taxes would drive consumers away from state-regulated dispensaries.

“At some point we’re going to wake a dormant black market if we continue to tax cannabis consumers to fix local and state budget holes,” Marcus said. “State and local leaders should be working to fund long-term sustainable solutions for our budget problems; not band-aid fixes on the backs of cannabis consumers.”

Still, the ballot measure is backed by state lawmakers from across the political spectrum.  

“For a generation, Colorado has struggled to close the education gap between the rich and poor, between those attending high performing schools and those not, between those who have access to tutors, technology and other out-of-school tools and those for whom even a little help with homework feels like a world away,” Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, said in a statement. 

Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, noted many top-performing students already benefit from the out-of-school learning opportunities the ballot measure would fund. 

“We want this same advantage for every single student in Colorado,” he said. “This ballot measure would provide it.” 

Along with Fields and Gardner, Sen. Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, former Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, and a number of groups are supporting the ballot initiative, including the African Leadership Group, Colorado Springs Conservatory, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education and Thorne Nature Experience.  Gary Community Investments, a top financial supporter of a successful 2020 ballot measure raising taxes on nicotine products to fund health and education programs, is also on board. 

The ballot initiative was filed with Legislative Council last month and its proponents expect it to be heard by the title board later this month. 

This story has been updated with comments from the Marijuana Industry Group and Terrapin.