Nearly $60 million worth of recreational marijuana was sold in Oregon during the first five months of taxed sales, according to estimated figures released Wednesday by the state.
The sales estimate is based on the amount of recreational marijuana tax that retailers paid the state for the period of Jan. 1 through May 30.
The Oregon Department of Revenue received $14.9 million in recreational tax payments as of May 30, the agency announced. Medical marijuana dispensaries began collecting a 25 percent sales tax in January.
Recreational marijuana retails for about $5,000 per pound, according to those involved in the dispensary business in Eugene. Using the state tax numbers, that means nearly 12,000 pounds — about six tons — of recreational pot has been sold from the start of the year to the end of May.
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