The other side of the story
There’s been a flurry of headlines in recent weeks about a new survey of homeless jail inmates in Colorado who said legal marijuana played a role in their decision to move to Colorado.
Dig a little deeper, however, and the study shows that most of the respondents were here before cannabis was legal. And it found no significant difference in cannabis being a draw for homeless vs. non-homeless transplants. Read Westword Story »
As Gov. John Hickenlooper is quoted as saying, “We’re attracting a lot of people, and when you attract a lot of people you get some homeless people.” Read More »
Speaking of half truths
That leads us to another of the opposition’s favorite but unsubstantiated claims: that legal marijuana has caused emergency room visits to skyrocket.
Politifact breaks down that one, noting “it is impossible to say that marijuana is the cause of these visits.” Read the Story »
And, debunking one more myth
A new analysis from the civic data analytics site LiveStories finds that while marijuana legalization has led to higher rates of cannabis consumption in Colorado and other states with similar laws, there’s no evidence it’s leading to higher use of more addictive drugs like heroin and cocaine. Read the Westword Story »
News
New reports dispute widespread claims tying legal cannabis to cartels and crime
/in Crime /by AdminSome law enforcement agencies have jumped on the bandwagon, alleging repeatedly that legalization is luring dangerous drug cartels to the state. Turns out, according to one of the newspapers that has been fanning the flames of much of that misinformation, there is no data or court cases to prove any of those assertions.
Read the Story »
At the same time, a new report throws cold water on claims that the legalization of pot has led to a rise in crime. Researchers at Washington State University say their review of FBI data for Washington and Colorado shows “no negative effects of legalization and, instead, indicate(s) that crime clearance rates for at least some types of crime are increasing faster in states that legalized than in those that did not.”
In other words, the researchers say, their findings seem to support the argument that marijuana legalization frees up police resources to focus on more serious crimes.
Quotable
/in Crime, People, Uncategorized /by Admin“What we have a tendency to do is think if there’s a Mexican involved in Colorado, they’re cartels…Probably not.”
~ Tim Gorman
Director of the federally funded anti-marijuana police organization
Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
Read Story »
Headlines
/in Economy, Health, Medicinal, People, Tax, Uncategorized /by AdminGov. John Hickenlooper talks to Slate about why he vetoed a bill allowing medical cannabis for autism. Hint: He repeats the claim that “certain people (with autism) that have an inclination to bipolar . . . can take this high THC marijuana and it will trigger a permanent response. In other words, make them almost schizophrenic.”
Read More »
A new $40 million recreation center is being funded entirely by Aurora’s marijuana tax revenue.
More Here »
New research by Economic Inquiry finds that legalizing retail sales of marijuana in Colorado increased housing values by about 6 percent.
Read More »
New state report shows cannabis consumption increasing in Colorado, but only among adults.
Read the Story »
More Here »
LEADership
/in Education, Health, Uncategorized /by AdminOne of the reasons Colorado has managed to avoid a rise in teen marijuana use post-legalization has to do with aggressive, realistic and age-appropriate education campaigns launched on both the state and local levels. Colorado Public Radio takes a look at one of the efforts, the “Healthy Lifestyles 101” class being offered during summer programs in Denver public schools.
Check out the story »
Quotable
/in People, Politics, Uncategorized /by Admin“Most of the things I feared most, haven’t occurred. We didn’t see a giant spike in teenage consumption. We didn’t see a spike in any consumption. The only place we’ve seen a slow but consistent increase in consumption is among senior citizens.”
– Gov. John Hickenlooper
Read More »
Surveys, Half Truths & Myths
/in Uncategorized /by AdminThe other side of the story
There’s been a flurry of headlines in recent weeks about a new survey of homeless jail inmates in Colorado who said legal marijuana played a role in their decision to move to Colorado.
Dig a little deeper, however, and the study shows that most of the respondents were here before cannabis was legal. And it found no significant difference in cannabis being a draw for homeless vs. non-homeless transplants. Read Westword Story »
As Gov. John Hickenlooper is quoted as saying, “We’re attracting a lot of people, and when you attract a lot of people you get some homeless people.” Read More »
Speaking of half truths
That leads us to another of the opposition’s favorite but unsubstantiated claims: that legal marijuana has caused emergency room visits to skyrocket.
Politifact breaks down that one, noting “it is impossible to say that marijuana is the cause of these visits.” Read the Story »
And, debunking one more myth
A new analysis from the civic data analytics site LiveStories finds that while marijuana legalization has led to higher rates of cannabis consumption in Colorado and other states with similar laws, there’s no evidence it’s leading to higher use of more addictive drugs like heroin and cocaine. Read the Westword Story »
Headlines
/in Uncategorized /by AdminGov. John Hickenlooper appoints Dominique Mendiola to replace Mark Bolton as director of marijuana coordination.
Read More »
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has launched two new marijuana education campaigns aimed at parents.
Read More »
The FDA’s approves cannabis-based epilepsy drug, it’s first ever recognition of a medical use for pot.
Read More »
Quotable
/in People, Uncategorized /by Admin“Yes, the critics have been loud in their opposition, twisting countless statistics to back their anti-marijuana messages. The reality, however, is most of their talk is just that: talk. The figures thrown around are often inaccurate or based on data that has no historical basis for comparison.
If you look at the solid data that we do have, it’s quite clear that this grand experiment, both responsibly and methodically implemented here in Colorado, has been a resounding success from both an economic and public policy perspective.”
Chuck Smith, CEO of Dixie Brands, Inc., and president of Colorado Leads.
Read More »
LEADership
/in Charity, Energy, Events, Uncategorized /by AdminThis month, the industry leaders are also throwing a benefit for the Colorado Carbon Fund and pushing for sustainable practices with the first Annual Green Industry Affair, which will include talks and entertainment July 24 at Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom.
All ticket and raffle proceeds will benefit the Colorado Carbon Fund.
Read More »
Events
/in Events, Uncategorized /by AdminJuly 18
Vangst cannabis career fair
July 19
Quarterly Cannabis caucus
July 24
The Green Industry Affair