New Industry Comes To Town
From outlaws and marshals , to succeeding in the coal mining industry , Trinidad , Colorado has always been a city of legends . At its peak , the population was at an impressive 30,000 . As the mines closed and people began moving away , the infrastructure and population began to decline , leaving many empty storefronts , crumbling buildings , and the population at a little over 8,000 .
However , after struggling for years , this quaint town is starting to come back to life , thanks to the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana . The industry has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue , has intrigued tourists from all over the country , and has created many new jobs as dispensaries continue to open . CNN recently spoke to city manager Gabe Engeland reporting , “ They had anticipated collecting $ 200,000 in tax revenue from legal pot sales , but the city collected $ 800,000 in taxes in just one year .” After this unpredicted success , it appears the city has little interest in turning back .
... anticipated collecting $ 200,000 in tax revenue ... but the city collected $ 800,000 ..
There are currently eight shops in Trinidad , and more to come with the city recently setting the limit to 20 stores . Although there are mixed feelings about the marijuana industry throughout the community , many are optimistic about the changes the industry is making to this potential tourist haven . Life-long local and member of the marijuana industry , Brandon Pingel , is one of many citizens excited about Trinidad ’ s recovery . “ This is why I work in this industry . I love this town , I grew up here , and I want to see it be successful ,” Pingel answered earnestly when asked about the impact the industry is having in Trinidad .
It seems Brandon ’ s wish might be coming true . Roads are being repaired , old water pipes are being replaced , virtually all real estate in the historic district has been purchased , several new restaurants have opened , and there are many more projects underway throughout town . It ’ s becoming increasingly clear that legalized marijuana may be just the thing Trinidad needs to get back on its feet and reclaim its status as a booming tourist destination , more legendary than ever .
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