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Tour Bus Flap

Denver crackdown on cannabis tour bus heads toward trial.

Denver Post Story »

In Training

The state Marijuana Enforcement Division now has a list of approved courses and trainers for cannabis industry employees.

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Cannabis Votes

Four weeks from now, voters in Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota and Utah will all be deciding measures that would lift legal restrictions on marijuana — but all in different ways. And Colorado, too, has another marijuana-related issue on the ballot.

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Holy Money

The first private equity firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry has minted 3 new billionaires.

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Word Games

Journalists covering cannabis industry struggle with terminology.

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Vape and Play

New vape lounge promises board games, coloring books, puzzles and more.

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Body of research quelling fears about legal cannabis continues to grow

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As the number of states and countries legalizing marijuana grows, so too does the research into the potential effects on society. The common theme: legal cannabis isn’t contributing to society’s ills. It may even be helping.

One of the biggest concerns – and misconceptions – has been about the dangers of driving under the influence and what opponents contended was a rise in DUIs because of legal adult cannabis use. But a first-ever study from the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice shows the majority of Coloradans suspected of driving under the influence in 2016 had been drinking, but only a small fraction had used marijuana. 

Colorado Politics Story »

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Colorado.gov Report »

Another study set to be published in October found that workplace deaths dropped in states that had legalized cannabis. The researchers analyzed federal Department of Labor statistics, finding that the numbers backed the theory that if people use marijuana as an alternative to alcohol or painkillers, the risk of impairment on the job could be lower.

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Colorado cannabis sales exceed $5 billion

May sales figures pushed the overall sales of recreational and medical marijuana to more than $5.1 billion since adult use was legalized in January 2014.

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Bill would protect federal workers in states with legal cannabis

Congressional proposal would bar feds from firing employers for marijuana use in states where cannabis is legal.

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Keeping it green

Cannabis industry looks to minimize its environmental footprint with more sustainable packaging.

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Industry taxes fund program for at-risk youth

New marijuana tax-funded program helps first-time teen offenders find alternatives to substance abuse. 

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State of the Industry

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The newest report on Colorado’s on marijuana industry provides a wealth of facts and figures, from how much marijuana is grown to the average life cycle of Colorado marijuana plants. Want to know how many edibles vs. buds were sold? Or how the medical vs. adult-use market is shaking out?

It’s all here in the Colorado Department of Revenue’s 2017 Marijuana Enforcement Division annual report. (Actual report:  Click to View PDF)

The MED report also notes that the number of licensees that passed compliance checks to ensure they are not selling to underage buyers rose to 95.1 percent from 94 percent in 2016.

“While we’re pleased that the percentage of licensees passing underage compliance checks increased from 2016 that number still isn’t good enough,” said Jim Burack, MED Director. “We’ll continue to increase the frequency of our enforcement efforts and further educate marijuana licensees on their operational requirements vital to protecting public health and safety. Importantly, business licenses are subject to discipline, including revocation, if management is not diligent about underage enforcement and associated employee training.”

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Why Colorado needs to legalize cannabis delivery

A veteran who works with many disabled and terminally ill vets explains why he supports efforts to make marijuana delivery legal.  And no, it’s not about being able to get pot with your pizza.

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Colorado Gazette backpedals on black market report

Earlier this year, the newspaper reported the black market for marijuana had dramatically expanded in Colorado since adult-use was legalized. Its newest report admits that isn’t really true because there isn’t a central, comprehensive data collection mechanism in place to track the black market.  As the Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Patricia Billinger said:

“We did not have a definitive measurement of the black market prior to legalization and do not have a definitive measurement today, so at best we can say with certainty that the percent of black market activity in Colorado has gone down.”

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Cannabis Tax Money Funding Local Projects

The Denver Parks and Recreation department is receiving four million dollars in funding to get “projects done that would not have been done before,” said Scott Gilmore, Denver’s Executive Director of Parks and Planning. 

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Education

Responsibility Grows Here,” the new public education effort launched by the state health department this week, will include four targeted campaigns addressing consumers, youth, trusted adults, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

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Jefferson University seeking 100,000 medical marijuana patients.

The Philadelphia-based  Thomas Jefferson University is working to build the world’s largest database of medical cannabis users to provide evidence-based resources for patients and caregivers.

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For the record

The Motley Fool compiles “7 Jaw-Dropping Marijuana Statistics You Have to See to Believe.”

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The Denver Post guts Cannabist.com

Founding editor Ricardo Baca attempts to buy back groundbreaking site »

Bill would protect cannabis research

A bipartisan measure filed in Congress would protect grants to academic and medical institutions that conduct cannabis research »

Support for legal cannabis at an all-time high

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Nearly two-thirds of American voters now back legalized marijuana, the highest level of support ever recorded by a Quinnipiac poll. Support for medical marijuana is even higher, at 93 percent, with only about 5 percent of respondents opposed.

The poll also found that 74 percent of Americans support Congress passing a bill similar to the one being proposed by Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., to protect states with legalized marijuana from federal interference.

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The evolution of Corey Gardner

Westword takes a look at the transformation of Gardner from marijuana opponent to states-rights cannabis advocate.

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Headlines

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Denver considers pot tax hike for affordable housing

The city’s 3.5 percent special tax on adult marijuana sales would increase to 5.5 percent, still far below the 15 percent threshold approved by voters several years ago.

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Dispensary competition heats up in Aspen

Two established Colorado cannabis retailers seek to compete in Aspen’s Durant Mall. The move would bring to seven the number of marijuana shops in the ski town.

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Colorado Leads Praises U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) for his Unwavering Leadership on States Rights 

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Denver – Colorado Leads, a cannabis business alliance of over 50 Colorado companies, thanked U.S. Sen Cory Gardner Friday for his unwavering leadership in fighting for state rights and ensuring a reliable business climate for Colorado’s responsible cannabis industry.

Through conversations with President Trump, Gardner was assured that Colorado’s marijuana industry won’t be targeted by the federal government and that the President will support a legislative solution that makes clear the federal government cannot interfere with states that have legalized marijuana. 

“We applaud Sen. Gardner’s leadership and his tireless efforts to provide certainty for the state’s cannabis industry, which employs thousands of people and contributes millions of dollars to the state and local economies,” said Chuck Smith, Board President of Colorado Leads. “We are also fortunate to have state elected officials, like Gov. John Hickenlooper, who have supported cannabis companies and worked with us to create a responsible and strictly regulated industry, which is considered the model for other states.”

“Today’s announcement clears a huge hurdle for our industry,” Smith continued. “Our focus must now be on banking and 280E reform. Conquering these issues will support responsible growth of the industry and further ensure public safety.”

The cannabis industry is the fastest-growing business sector in the state creating more than 39,000 direct jobs and an economic impact of $2.4 billion.  In 2017 alone, the marijuana industry generated $226 million in taxes and fees, and over the past four years, $639 million in taxes and fees has been collected, The tax money has gone towards school construction projects and mental and behavioral health services, as well as to local governments that have used the tax money for new streets, homelessness programs college scholarships.

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From the files of wait, WHAT?? 

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The Republican former Speaker of the House has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a company that cultivates, processes and dispenses cannabis in 11 U.S. states. Boehner’s endorsement, after saying nine years ago he was “unalterably opposed” to legalization, could be considered a watershed event: Marijuana has gone mainstream.

“Over the last 10 or 15 years, the American people’s attitudes have changed dramatically,” he said in an interview. “I find myself in that same position.”

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