In Colorado, 10 years ago, adults came from all over the U.S. to participate in a historic event: purchasing legal and regulated cannabis from the first licensed recreational cannabis retailers in the U.S. The governor said that his state had led by example in the last decade and influenced the legalization debate, which has since seen more than half of states end prohibition.
Since the first day of sales in January 2014, a lot has changed. Colorado’s cannabis industry has changed in many ways. Both lawmakers and Governor have played a role. Jared Polis, a Democrat, has implemented a number of reforms that build on the legalization laws approved by voters in 2012.
Polis, speaking to Marijuana Moment, said that since Colorado voters legalized marijuana a decade ago the state has developed a regulatory system that is one of the best in the world. It has inspired many others around the country and the globe.
The governor stated that “the legal cannabis industry created thousands of new jobs and grew our economy. We have made significant progress in equity, industry growth and banking and used sales revenue to fund schools throughout the state.” “We will continue to push for a more efficient and just system that serves Colorado’s people.”
Most people agree that the state’s experiment in legalization has been a great success. It has shown the rest of the nation how replacing criminalization with regulations can effectively transition individuals to the legal market.
Colorado’s legal marijuana sales have exceeded $15 billion since the opening day of 10 years ago on Monday. About $2.6 billion has been collected in cannabis taxes and fees. This money has gone to fund public education, substance abuse treatment, law enforcement, affordable housing, research and illicit market interdiction.
Mason Tvert, a partner with the Denver-based cannabis strategy firm VS Strategies who led the Amendment 64 campaign in Colorado to legalize marijuana, told Marijuana Moment the state’s legalization experience “has proven that regulating cannabis is effective.”
He said that “the most important aspect of Colorado’s Cannabis Legalization Law is the flexibility it gives lawmakers and regulators.”
He said, “The state could continue to adjust, learn from the other states and improve its efficiency and effectiveness over time.” “This is exactly the same approach we have seen states take when it comes to alcohol. Cannabis is not yet on an equal playing field with alcohol but it is heading in that direction.
The marijuana market may not be on a level playing field with alcohol but it is still competitive. In August, the nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff of Colorado released a report showing that Colorado had generated more tax revenue through cannabis than from alcohol or cigarettes in the past fiscal year.
The Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division’s (MED) recent report cited a ID compliance rate of 99.5 percent among the state’s cannabis business.
Colorado’s “experiment” with cannabis, ten years on, has proven to be a success. Colorado has stopped arresting tens and thousands of people each year, created tens of thousand of jobs in the cannabis industry, and generated over $2.5 billion dollars of tax revenue for Colorado,” Brian Vicente said, founder partner of Vicente Sederberg, another official supporter of the 2012 ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
“Colorado’s legalization laws have had a lasting impact on the state and country as well as the world.” “With Colorado as a leader, we have now 24 states that allow adult-use of cannabis as well as many countries around the world,” he said. “Colorado is a leader in drug policy and is leading the way once again with the implementation of its initiative that was approved by voters to decriminalize psychedelic mushroom and other natural medicine.
Molly Duplechian is the executive director of Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses . She told9News it was “hard to imagine that 10 years had passed so quickly and that our mindset back then has changed.”
She said, “It’s just a part of Denver life and Colorado and it’s normal for everyone.” We can look back and see that there was much fear and uncertainty 10 years ago. But we know now that we made the right decision. Some people feared that youth use would increase or crime would rise, but none of these predictions came true. “I think we can be proud of a lot.”
Duplechian continued, “There have been many changes in the past 10 years.” “One of the things that have changed, and that is on my mind right now, is social equity and making sure those who were disproportionately affected by the drug war are now able access the industry.”
Even Colorado officials, who opposed the 2012 ballot initiative for legalization, have publicly acknowledged that their concerns did not materialize and the regulatory model has proven successful. That includes U.S. Sen. John. Hickenlooper, who was governor of Colorado at the time the vote took place.
Hickenlooper and Hancock , along with advocates and stakeholders, celebrated the 10-year anniversary the legalization vote at an event last summer. The senator advocated for federal reform that builds on state-level progress.
Polis is pushing for federal reform , while proposing new cannabis revenue distributions on the state level. He recently said that Colorado should be the “center” for the global and national marijuana market once the prohibition is lifted.
Polis said that he supports “strongly” a federal bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER), to normalize the marijuana business. He added that federal legalization is what’s really needed to allow Colorado to be a leader in the marijuana industry at a national and international scale.
Polis praised the President’s mass pardon as an example that the White House is following Colorado’s lead.
Polis has called on lawmakers to take steps that will allow him to pardon people who have prior convictions for psychedelics. He signed legislation in May to implement regulation for substances such as psilocybin and ayahuasca , in line with the legalization ballot initiative approved by voters last year.
In June, the governor also signed into law a bill that allowed online marijuana sales. This reform took effect in August.
Recently, he also approved legislation that will strengthen marijuana-related protections in the state for working professionals–effectively codifying a executive order he released last year.
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Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post Colorado’s Governor and Activists Mark 10 Years Of Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
