Colorado lawmakers are proposing a proposal to increase excise taxes on alcohol and sales and excise tax taxes on marijuana, which would require approval from the State Legislature and Colorado voters. The bill aims to address a shortage of state mental health hospital beds for adults with severe mental illness, which has seen a decrease in numbers since the 1970s. State Representative Bob Marshall argues that the state is facing a $850 million budget deficit and needs to address this issue. The proposed bill would raise the excise tax on alcohol by $0.0733 per gallon for malt liquors, hard cider, and all vinous liquors except hard cider. It would also increase sales and tax on retail marijuana by 0.42 percentage points each. The Wine Institute, Distilled Spirits Council, Sazerac Company and Colorado Leads are all registered in opposition to the bill.