News

Colorado Leads Welcomes New Board Member Joe Hodas

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We are pleased to welcome Joe Hodas to the Colorado Leads Board of Directors!

Joe serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Wana Brands, where he is responsible for generating revenue by creating innovative and refined marketing campaigns for the organization while helping to grow Wana’s brand, market share and customer loyalty. Since joining Wana in 2020, Hodas has been on the team that launched new innovative lines–including Quick, Optimals and Live Rosin Gummies–while expanding Wana’s North American footprint to become a top international cannabis brand. An early professional marketer in the cannabis industry, Hodas drove the marketing strategy for Dixie Elixirs as its first CMO, helping build it into one of the most recognized national marijuana brands. Read more

And Social Justice for All . . .

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A new report from a global network of non-government organizations promoting drug policy offers a blueprint for cannabis businesses that take social justice seriously. The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)’s looked at the responsible regulation of cannabis and shined a light on why companies should address broader issues such as social justice and sustainability.

The IDPC document lists 20 principles, and in an interview with Marijuana Business Daily, had three takeaways for cannabis executives:

  1. Support affirmative action for communities affected by the war on drugs
  2. Protect and empower women within the cannabis industry
  3. Use certifications to promote fairness and sustainability across the supply chain

Read more details here.

 

In a related video, Yahoo Life spoke to power players in the industry who are working to dismantle oppressive systems meant to incarcerate people of color and prohibit them from finding success.

VIDEO: How Marijuana Legalization Advocates Across the U.S. Are Fighting to End the War on Cannabis

Cannabis by the Numbers

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Despite the pandemic, there has been a lot of positive cannabis news in the last couple of weeks.

From research advancements to increases in industry employment numbers to an infusion of millions of dollars of tax money to the State of Colorado, the cannabis industry has a lot to be proud of.

By the numbers:

The cannabis industry’s
projected economic impact
by 2024.

Projections show cannabis employment growth could increase 50% in 2020. That would be more than the number of the nation’s computer programmers. Chart: US cannabis employment could climb nearly 50% in 2020, surpassing computer programmers

The year marijuana was hailed as a miraculous treatment for “general debility” and “nervous excitement.” Since then, there hasn’t been much scientific research on cannabis, but Colorado is one of the states trying to lead the way with controlled, peer-reviewed studies.

Put a $ in front of it and it’s $167 million. That’s the tax revenue generated by the Colorado cannabis industry from January through June of 2020. Since legalization, the state has received nearly $1.4 billion in cannabis taxes and fees.

Here’s how Denver spends it’s
tax revenue.

Here are the 35 most influential womenin cannabis, according to Green Entrepreneur. Notables include soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and in Colorado, CEO of Simply Pure Dispensary, Wanda James, Shannon Donnelly, CEO of Healthy Honeys, and Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands.

That is how much of an increase in the rates of crime in states bordering Colorado and Washington, according to a study published in the Journal of Drug Issues. In fact, researchers found “a substantial reduction in certain types of crimes, such as property crime, larceny, and simple assault in border counties in the Colorado region.”

BLM

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The cannabis community has come together nationally as an ally to Black Lives Matter, the political and social movement emphasizing basic human rights and racial equality for Black people. Some key resources are below.

  How the movement may impact the industry  

Black owned businesses to support in
and around Denver  

 Organizations working for social justice, diversity
and community empowerment   

Organizations fighting for BIPOC justice
and equality   

Yeah, let’s legalize … something? 

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Tim Childers, one of 12 Frankfort City Commission candidates, lit a marijuana pipe while answering a question during a live video debate.

“Let’s go against the state and legalize something,” Childers said as he held a lighter to his marijuana pipe. “Big money in that. Bunch of states doing it. I have the answers — candidate with solutions, people.”

Colorado Leads Members: In their own words 

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Bob Eschino

President of Medically Correct, LLC

What do you/your company specialize in? 

We are one of the country’s largest infused edible manufacturers and extract companies. We specialize in quality, consistent edibles using multiple delivery methods and cannabinoid ratios for patients and customers in need.

What prompted you to enter the cannabis industry?

I watched cannabis work for my grandmother when pharmaceuticals had failed her.  It helped with her pain, appetite and sleep.  Seeing cannabis work as medicine compelled me to figure out a way to get quality medicine to patients in need.  Since that time, we have worked to get easier, safer access to cannabis for patients.  We have been on the forefront of accurate and clean product manufacturing and legitimate health alternatives.

What do you consider to be your most significant business accomplishment?  

We sell over one million products a year in Colorado alone to patients and I’m proud that we are able to help so many people.  We also employ over 100 people in Colorado and help contribute to the local economy.  We also provide assistance to our local schools and shelters, giving back to our community where we can.

What do you consider to be your most significant business failure? 

Not being able to effectively navigate the banking regulations to allow us to grow at a quicker pace.  Not having access to capital has slowed the companies growth at times.

What is your next business goal?  

To continue to help shape cannabis regulations not only in Colorado, but at the federal level as well.  I want to see the industry become federally legal, so we can help patients across the globe.

Republicans – and the Kochs – for Cannabis?

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Why, yes. Republican state lawmakers, a former federal prosecutor, Koch Industries, NBA champion Kevin Garnett and criminal justice reform advocates delivered a letter to President Trump, imploring him to grant pardons or commutations to people serving time in federal prison for non-violent marijuana offenses.

Read More »

Presidential cannabis round up

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All seven top-tier candidates support at least decriminalizing marijuana. Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Steyer, Warren and Sanders support vacating past marijuana convictions. Most of the candidates also support efforts to make it easier for marijuana businesses to access financial services. Warren, Sanders and Klobuchar are co-sponsors of the SAFE Banking Act, and Steyer has expressed support.

And only Biden and Bloomberg do not outright support legalization. More »

In the past, Bloomberg has been less than friendly toward cannabis.  While Mayor of New York, his stop-and-frisk policy and insistence on arrests for low-level pot possession led to around 440,000 arrests for marijuana possession alone.  And five years ago at the Aspen Institute, Bloomberg said he “couldn’t feel more strongly about” opposing legalization. “It is different than alcohol. This is one of the stupider things that’s happening across our country,” he said.

Westword Article »

Isn’t it ironic? 

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Trump Says Marijuana Makes People “Lose IQ Points”

Here it is »

 

Colorado Leads Members: In their own words 

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Peter Barsoom, CEO of 1906

What do you/your company specialize in?

1906 is on a mission to bring cannabis back to the mainstream. Our unique and innovative line of edibles combines great taste, superior ingredients, and rapid-delivery formulations in a range of experiences that bring the benefits of cannabis and plant medicine to health-conscious adults for whom indulging has to compliment – not deter – a healthy lifestyle. Our lineup delivers unique experiences that promote sleep, energy, arousal, relaxation and a happy mood, all in safe and predictable formulations using single-strain organic cannabis. 

What prompted you to enter the cannabis industry?

I got into the cannabis industry because my wife and I were enthusiasts of smoking flower, but we were concerned about the health impacts of smoking. Edibles didn’t seem like a viable alternative because they were too unpredictable, they tasted bad, and they had a lot of unhealthy ingredients. We also were fascinated by plant medicine from Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and other traditions, and then of course, cannabis is one of the most widely-used medicines in history. We saw a major opportunity in the market – to blend the functional benefits of plant medicine with the longstanding benefits of cannabis, and combine those in a healthy, delicious and safe edible. That’s how 1906 was born.

What do you consider to be your most significant business accomplishment?

I am most proud of the fact that 1906 is impacting people in pretty simple and yet profound ways. We are there for intimate and vulnerable moments in people’s lives–we’re there when they want to sleep, or have better sex, or relax after a hard day, and it’s such an honor to be able to help them in these moments. Part of what I’ve learned in this work is that so much of the American population is suffering around these issues. We want to give people permission to seek out a better experience–around sex or sleep or hanging out with their mate after the kids go to bed. We don’t have to suffer. We have lots of plant-based allies, and, as a company, we’re proud to bring them together in an accessible, safe, reliable product.

What do you consider to be your most significant business failure?

Our first packaging design was too big, white, and too subtle. 

What is your next business goal?

We will be expanding operations for cannabis chocolates and other edibles to additional states in the next two years. We’re also branching out into new products including beverages and other form factors. This month, we will be introducing 1906 Drops in the Colorado market. People are desperate alternative remedies to the pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs they’re taking. We set out to provide a plant-based alternative giving rise to a whole new category of products. 1906 Drops are pressed tablets (or pills) with the same plant medicines as our chocolates that are fast-acting, portable, zero calories and optimal remedies for health-conscious adults without the side effects of pharmaceuticals.