Dive Brief:

• Pueblo County, CO voters approved a  tax increase that should hit 5% by 2020 on marijuana growers to fund college scholarships for high school graduates.  
• The tax hike could bring in about $3.5 million — at least half of that will go toward funding scholarships to attend local colleges. Starting next year, graduating students can get scholarships to schools funded by the marijuana tax.
• "The challenge for the county will be "how well Pueblo can manage educating minors in staying away from recreational marijuana and encourage the growth and development of that industry (at the same time)," Tyler Henson, president of Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce told CNN.

Dive Insight:

While there is some opposition — the measure had 60% support from voters — some are lauding the plan as a way to tackle some pressing educational needs in the state.  

"The whole point of the scholarship program was to make higher education a reality for families who can't afford to send their kids to school because of debt," said Paris Carmichael, a spokesperson for Pueblo County.  

Marijuana has been an economic game-changer for the state; from housing and now potentially in education.