Colorado’s legal marijuana industry is weathering its first sustained downturn since dispensaries began selling recreational weed in 2014. Dispensaries are closing. New ventures, like delivery services and social clubs, are struggling. Tax revenues are plummeting. And across the industry, layoffs are sending marijuana workers packing. Colorado’s green boom is beginning to bust as more states […]
recreational marijuana
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: After 20 years, it’s clear that marijuana is not ‘medicine’
In 2000, Colorado bought a pig in a poke. We truly didn’t know what we were getting. Can we finally admit it? It may have seemed like a good thing in 2000. We voted to legalize the use of marijuana for certain medical conditions that were known to be accompanied by chronic pain, nausea and […]
Posted inColoradans, Education, News, Politics and Government
Colorado education groups split over proposal to raise marijuana taxes to boost out-of-school learning
A battle is brewing over a proposed marijuana tax increase to provide tutoring to mostly low-income students even before it makes the November ballot, dividing educators, lawmakers and community organizations on the best approach to help Colorado’s most vulnerable pupils make academic gains. Advocates are touting Initiative 25 as a solution to closing learning gaps […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Governor to issue more pardons now that Coloradans can legally possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Thursday that he will issue additional pardons to Coloradans convicted of low-level marijuana possession crimes now that he’s signed a bill into law allowing people to have up to 2 ounces of cannabis. House Bill 1090, which Polis made a law on Thursday, doubles Colorado’s recreational marjuana possession limit to […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers aim to enact strict new regulations on marijuana concentrate, medical cannabis
Marijuana concentrate and medical marijuana would be subject to strict new regulations under a bill introduced Friday in the Colorado legislature that’s aimed at curbing teen use and adult overconsumption of high-potency cannabis. House Bill 1317 would require that dabs — concentrated cannabis that comes in a wax form and is made by extracting THC […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
New Mexico marijuana legalization poses a serious threat to Colorado’s lucrative border-town pot shops
TRINIDAD —When Colorado legalized the retail sale of marijuana in 2012, savvy entrepreneurs saw an opportunity beyond setting up shop in population centers like Denver and Boulder. They realized if they opened cannabis businesses in small towns along the state’s borders, they could attract customers from Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, where […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Coloradans convicted of marijuana possession could easily get their record sealed under new bill
Colorado lawmakers are on track to give more people convicted of marijuana possession offenses the opportunity to easily seal their criminal record, by requiring courts to seal convictions for possession up to two ounces for people who haven’t committed a crime since. House Bill 1090 would also expand Colorado’s recreational marijuana possession limit to two […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
$10 billion in recreational marijuana has now been sold in Colorado, fueled by strong 2020 sales
Colorado retailers have sold $10 billion in marijuana since recreational pot started being sold in 2014, according to new monthly figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Revenue. Total 2020 sales hit $2.19 billion, up sharply from $1.75 billion in all of 2019, according to the state. Sales in December alone were $186.34 million. […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Coronavirus fuels marijuana industry’s push for online sales, delivery in Colorado
By Thomas Peipert, The Associated Press Colorado has made online sales of recreational marijuana legal during the coronavirus pandemic, fulfilling one of the pot industry’s biggest wishes and fueling its argument for more concessions that could be made permanent when the crisis eases. It’s one of several signs emerging from the virus outbreak of just […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s top federal prosecutor says banks working with marijuana industry have “no carve out” from prosecutions
Colorado’s top federal prosecutor says that he would never tell banks working with legal marijuana businesses in the state that they are devoid of criminal liability. “As federal prosecutors,” Jason Dunn told The Colorado Sun on Tuesday, “we will never tell them that what they are doing is lawful under federal law. There’s always a […]