“Invalid” Adams County special marijuana tax collected $1.36 million that could have to be returned

(DP) Adams County has collected more than $1.36 million through a 3 percent tax on recreational marijuana sales that the Colorado Court of Appeals found to be invalid. The voter-approved tax generated $293,875 in the last six months of 2015 and $1,070,557 so far this year that may have to be refunded. The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the tax is invalid, reversing a lower court decision and siding with the cities of Northglenn, Aurora and Commerce City, which sued over the tariff. That leaves all of the money collected by the tax in limbo — including more than $500,000 earmarked for college scholarships for underprivileged students — while the county decides what to do next.