Who Colorado’s cannabis industry is backing in Election 2024

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Candidates in Colorado receive endorsements from all kinds of groups: Chambers of Commerce, Planned Parenthood, unions, advocacy organizations and lobbyists from a multitude of industries. Now, there’s a new voice in the mix: The Marjuana Industry Group (MIG). It’s not the first vote guide put out by the trade association — last year, MIG produced a guide to Denver city council and mayoral candidates.

But 2024’s “Green Voter Guide” is the first to go statewide, endorsing candidates for the Colorado Legislature and weighing in on ballot measures in five communities.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Erie’s question to voters about allowing sales of recreational marijuana got the green light from MIG. (Though local business leaders have said the restrictions associated with where dispensaries can locate make it unlikely that a business will be able to establish there.)

Of the 30 candidates endorsed by the industry group, just one appears on Boulder County ballots: Karen McCormick, the incumbent Democrat representative for House District 11.

“I am not 100% sure why I got MIG endorsement,” McCormick wrote in response to emailed questions, adding that she was “not that knowledgeable of the ins and outs of the industry.

“It could be because I am willing to listen to the concerns of small businesses and take those concerns into consideration.”

Candidates who earned MIG’s seal of approval are ones who “have an openness to talking about reviewing the regulatory model with an eye toward updating,” says Truman Bradley, the group’s executive director. “Colorado was the first state to legalize. Now that we’re two decades in, it’s pretty clear some of the things just didn’t hold up.”

“Updating” includes reducing the regulatory and tax burden on companies — a typical ask of business interests. That’s become an increasing focus as the state’s cannabis industry has suffered a prolonged downturn, losing nearly a third of revenue since 2021. The number of licenses and jobs dropped 16% each, according to reporting from Politico, and prices for the drug dropped significantly.

A number of factors influenced that decline, including the end of COVID lockdowns and legalization in other states. But the regulatory burden plays a big role, too, according to MIG Executive Director Truman Bradley.

“The laws and the rules and the tax structures were put in when Colorado was the only legal place to buy marijuana for 1,000 miles in any direction,” Bradley says. “Even now, we have some of the highest tax rates, and our industry has some of the highest tax rates in any industry. That’s just not sustainable in any market.”

The industry hopes to change Colorado’s laws that limit how much weed someone can buy. Right now, it’s 1 oz., half of what neighboring New Mexico allows, and half of what Coloradans are legally allowed to possess.

“If you want to buy what you are legally allowed to have, you have to drive to two different stores,” Bradley says. “It doesn’t help public safety in any way; it’s just annoying.”

That’s just one example of what MIG calls “outdated regulations” it hopes to change — with the support of lawmakers friendly to the cause. Legislation will be introduced next year, according to Bradley.

MIG produced two versions of its voter guide: one for social media or the TVs at dispensary waiting rooms, and a black-and-white, printable “kitchen guide” they hope voters will use when filling out their ballots.

“We feel as an industry we’ve kept our promise for public safety,” Bradley says. “What’s not working is the business.”

Read more Election 2024 content from Boulder Weekly

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Who Colorado’s cannabis industry is backing in Election 2024

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