Upcoming Events
Oct. 14 through 16
Marijuana for Medical Professionals
Oct. 18
Colorado Quarterly Cannabis Caucus
Oct. 26
Cannabis Sustainability Forum
News
Cannabis and Tourism
The markets and options are growing
When marijuana was first legalized in Colorado, state and local tourism officials did their best to distance themselves from the industry, downplaying its role as a tourist draw in an obvious attempt to stay neutral and avoid turning off travelers opposed to cannabis.
But as more states legalize marijuana and its use becomes increasingly mainstream, it’s getting harder to ignore the opportunities legal marijuana offers the travel industry. And players around the country are looking at Colorado travel businesses who seized on cannabis opportunities as a model.
A new Airbnb for marijuana smokers
One of the biggest problems for cannabis smokers is finding a place to legally indulge. A new twist on Airbnb aims to fix that.
Quotable
“Colorado really jumped on the bandwagon as far as cannabis tourism, and the laws up to this point really allowed for the cultivation of it. Cannabis tourism is pretty big in Colorado, but Las Vegas is on that verge (of reaching that level). If we figure out social consumption and (laws are approved) that actually make it seem like we can create profitable businesses out of it, the tourism aspect is going to be huge.”
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Cannabition founder JJ Walker
Interesting Listening
Colorado Public Radio talks about the culture shift that has put marijuana up with immigration and the economy as a top issue in the midterms.
LEADership
Pueblo and Denver are following through on using their marijuana taxes for the public good.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, a legal cannabis opponent turned supporter, has signed into a law a proposal to increase marijuana taxes from 3.5 percent to 5.5 percent to help fund more affordable housing.
In Pueblo, the city is using cannabis tax revenue to fund scholarships.
Members in the News
Meet Nancy Whiteman, a Colorado-based former insurance executive who created the state’s most successful edible marijuana business. Whiteman is co-founder and CEO of Wana Brands.
How this 60-year-old MBA turned edible gummies into a business bringing in millions»
Listen to Jon Taffer talk to co-founder and CEO of retail cannabis chain Medicine Man Andy Williams. Find out how this cannabis pioneer took $150,000 and turned it into multi-million-dollar cannabis empire.
THE MEDICINE MAN – ANDY WILLIAMS + EL K’RAJO BAR RESCUE PUERTO RICO RECAP
Headlines
Denver approves vaping lounge
Despite complaints about too many rules, a second business has been able to win a social consumption license.
Consumer friendly
Housing prices might be out of control, but a new study from Wikileaf says marijuana is cheaper in Denver than most markets.
Pesticide tests costly for growers
Falling prices and new testing putting a financial squeeze on some growers.
Palmer Lake to reconsider legal cannabis
Palmer Lake residents will vote for a third time in November on whether to allow adult use marijuana.
Quotable
“I am deeply concerned by this intentional effort to mislead the American people. At a time when we should be investing in objective and peer-reviewed scientific research on marijuana and the effects of legalization, the White House is instead using taxpayer money to spread a politically-driven narrative.”
“The only way to ‘turn the tide’ on any issue with the public is to be a credible voice. By cherry-picking data to support pre-ordained and misinformed conclusions on marijuana, the Trump administration has further eroded any credibility it has on this issue.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet in a letter to the White House
The Future of Cannabis
One of the criticisms of the legal marijuana industry has been about the amount of energy required to power grow houses. But most agree that as cannabis becomes more mainstream, much of the growth will go back to nature, like the sustainable, organic operation outdoor cannabis farm, Pot Zero, in Eagle County.
Colorado Cannabis Tours is taking interested visitors up to farm throughout September so more people can learn how the owners, Rob and Linda Trotter, use their land and natural resources for a carbon free grow.