A state senator said Thursday he wants to ask voters to impose a special tax on medical marijuana.

Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, said he intends to amend a bill that creates regulations for medical-marijuana dispensaries to include a provision that places an excise tax on medical marijuana, similar to the special excise tax that already exists for alcohol. Because of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, that provision — if first approved by lawmakers — must be put before the voters before the tax could be imposed.

Romer wants to use the resulting revenue — which he hopes to be about $10 million to $15 million annually — to fund drug education programs for teens, substance- abuse treatment centers, and medical care for veterans and the poor. Romer said he is concerned the state’s boom in medical-marijuana use could create a companion boom in recreational marijuana use among young people.

The idea received a cautious reception from medical-marijuana advocates.

Attorney Rob Corry said he’s intrigued by the idea but would first need to see more specifics.

“With taxation comes legitimacy,” Corry said. “This industry is one of the few that is asking to be taxed and legitimized to join the rest of the business world.”

The measure would be inserted into House Bill 1284, which creates new requirements for the state’s medical-marijuana dispensaries, and is just one of several changes the bill will likely see when it comes up for its first hearing next week.