The legalization of "sins": how much taxes do Americans pay for their bad habits

Despite the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, social advertising and high taxes on goods, the use of which is considered bad habits, it is still not possible to defeat human "sins". However, governments around the world are not shy about making money from addictions, including the sale of cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol, as well as the gambling business.

People's deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak told about how much taxes citizens of the United States pay for their "sins". Surprisingly, the sale of cannabis, which is legalized in 24 US states, adds only a small drop to the American budget.

According to Zheleznyak, in 2023, the tax revenues from the sale of cannabis in various US states were as follows:

1. California - $567,4 million (0,24% of all state taxes);
2. Washington - $460,3 million (1,23%);
3. Illinois – $278,2 million (0,44%);
4. Michigan - $270,4 million (0,70%);
5. Colorado - $263 million (1,33%);
6. Arizona – $176,2 million (0,78%);
7. Oregon - $169,4 million (0,88%);
8. Massachusetts - $168,1 million (0,41%);
9. Nevada – $121,5 million (0,99%);
10. Montana - $49,4 million (1,05%).

The four most common bad habits cost Americans a total of nearly $2023 billion in taxes in 40, including:

• from the sale of cannabis - more than 2,9 billion;
• from the sale of alcohol - 11 billion;
• from the sale of tobacco - 12,5 billion;
• from gambling business - 13,5 bln.