The General
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When Colorado voters this time last year backed legalizing recreational marijuana, Gov. John Hickenlooper had a tongue-in-cheek reply: "Federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don't break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly," he responded, causing ire within the legalization community. In the year since Colorado became one of only two states to legalize marijuana, the governor's tone has shifted. What was once a joke has become a serious endeavor to prove to the nation and world that Colorado can safely regulate a marijuana marketplace without blockades by the federal government.
That's why the governor's office had thrown its weight behind Proposition AA, which voters on Tuesday backed by wide margins. The ballot question authorized a 15 percent excise tax on recreational marijuana for school capital construction, and a separate 10 percent special sales tax for regulation. Marijuana tax campaign manager Rick Ridder offers a victory speech Tuesday night at the Magnolia Hotel where Proposition AA supporters celebrated their success. Photo by John Schoenwalter/The Colorado Statesman
Legislative Council estimates that the tax will generate $27.5 million in annual excise revenue and $39.5 million in annual sales revenue. Of that sales revenue, $6 million will be shared with local governments.
The latest statewide returns as of Thursday afternoon indicated that the initiative passed 65 percent to 35 percent. "Rip open the bags," the governor joked on election night, responding to a question asked by The Colorado Statesman. "Cheetos and Goldfish for everybody." He later continued the joke on Twitter, saying, "Marijuana, Cheetos & Goldfish all legal in CO. Now we'll have the $$ to regulate, enforce & educate."
His sense of humor on the topic highlights a significant change in direction on the marijuana legalization issue. The governor opposed Amendment 64, the initiative last year that legalized a marijuana marketplace. Others joined in opposition, including Attorney General John Suthers and business leaders across the state that felt legalization would damage the state's brand and make it known as the Amsterdam of America.
But with the legalization question in the rearview mirror, policy leaders began looking ahead. Marijuana tax supporters led by the cannabis industry itself eventually built a broad coalition, including Hickenlooper, Suthers, municipalities, business leaders and prosecutors. Hickenlooper on Tuesday following the vote once again expressed his concerns with marijuana legalization. But he said revenue to regulate it is a step in the right direction.
"We heard people say marijuana should be treated like alcohol," said the governor. "Well, alcohol is one of the most tightly regulated substances in America. So, we wanted to make sure we had the resources to ensure that kids don't get access to pot, that people aren't driving high. And what this initiative did was provide us the resources so that we will be able to go out there and create a regulatory enforcement... system that holds people accountable." Hickenlooper drew upon his own experiences as a former brewpub owner. "If you serve alcohol to a minor, the first time... they'll suspend your license for three days," he said. "You do it a second time, they'll close you down.
"I don't like Colorado being the test case for marijuana. I think it puts us in a difficult position. It takes a huge amount of time. I would have rather that this evolution happen on a national level," the governor continued. "But if we're going to do it, it makes a huge difference to have the resources instead of having to try and do it on the cheap..." Further evidence that the governor's approach to legalization has evolved along with the burgeoning industry was the presence of his chief legal counsel, Jack Finlaw, at the Proposition AA watch party at the Magnolia Hotel on election night. Finlaw also co-chaired the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force, which the governor convened last year to begin implementing the new marijuana marketplace.
Finlaw agreed that the governor's office has shifted its approach. He said much of that has to do with a commitment by the industry itself to secure regulation. The majority of the marijuana industry spearheaded the tax initiative, making it perhaps the only industry in the nation advocating for a tax on itself. "I'm very, very pleased that the industry stepped up... and ran the campaign and funded the campaign. It shows that they are very responsible partners in this with us," said Finlaw.
"We found that we had a lot of common interests in doing this right," he continued. "We all gained respect for each other. And so, yes, the tone did change because we learned that these folks are really entrepreneurs, and they want to be good business people... They're really going to provide responsible businesses and jobs for Coloradans."
News Hawk - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Coloradostatesman.com
Author: Peter Marcus
Contact: Contact Us
Website: High turnout for tax on pot | Colorado Statesman
That's why the governor's office had thrown its weight behind Proposition AA, which voters on Tuesday backed by wide margins. The ballot question authorized a 15 percent excise tax on recreational marijuana for school capital construction, and a separate 10 percent special sales tax for regulation. Marijuana tax campaign manager Rick Ridder offers a victory speech Tuesday night at the Magnolia Hotel where Proposition AA supporters celebrated their success. Photo by John Schoenwalter/The Colorado Statesman
Legislative Council estimates that the tax will generate $27.5 million in annual excise revenue and $39.5 million in annual sales revenue. Of that sales revenue, $6 million will be shared with local governments.
The latest statewide returns as of Thursday afternoon indicated that the initiative passed 65 percent to 35 percent. "Rip open the bags," the governor joked on election night, responding to a question asked by The Colorado Statesman. "Cheetos and Goldfish for everybody." He later continued the joke on Twitter, saying, "Marijuana, Cheetos & Goldfish all legal in CO. Now we'll have the $$ to regulate, enforce & educate."
His sense of humor on the topic highlights a significant change in direction on the marijuana legalization issue. The governor opposed Amendment 64, the initiative last year that legalized a marijuana marketplace. Others joined in opposition, including Attorney General John Suthers and business leaders across the state that felt legalization would damage the state's brand and make it known as the Amsterdam of America.
But with the legalization question in the rearview mirror, policy leaders began looking ahead. Marijuana tax supporters led by the cannabis industry itself eventually built a broad coalition, including Hickenlooper, Suthers, municipalities, business leaders and prosecutors. Hickenlooper on Tuesday following the vote once again expressed his concerns with marijuana legalization. But he said revenue to regulate it is a step in the right direction.
"We heard people say marijuana should be treated like alcohol," said the governor. "Well, alcohol is one of the most tightly regulated substances in America. So, we wanted to make sure we had the resources to ensure that kids don't get access to pot, that people aren't driving high. And what this initiative did was provide us the resources so that we will be able to go out there and create a regulatory enforcement... system that holds people accountable." Hickenlooper drew upon his own experiences as a former brewpub owner. "If you serve alcohol to a minor, the first time... they'll suspend your license for three days," he said. "You do it a second time, they'll close you down.
"I don't like Colorado being the test case for marijuana. I think it puts us in a difficult position. It takes a huge amount of time. I would have rather that this evolution happen on a national level," the governor continued. "But if we're going to do it, it makes a huge difference to have the resources instead of having to try and do it on the cheap..." Further evidence that the governor's approach to legalization has evolved along with the burgeoning industry was the presence of his chief legal counsel, Jack Finlaw, at the Proposition AA watch party at the Magnolia Hotel on election night. Finlaw also co-chaired the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force, which the governor convened last year to begin implementing the new marijuana marketplace.
Finlaw agreed that the governor's office has shifted its approach. He said much of that has to do with a commitment by the industry itself to secure regulation. The majority of the marijuana industry spearheaded the tax initiative, making it perhaps the only industry in the nation advocating for a tax on itself. "I'm very, very pleased that the industry stepped up... and ran the campaign and funded the campaign. It shows that they are very responsible partners in this with us," said Finlaw.
"We found that we had a lot of common interests in doing this right," he continued. "We all gained respect for each other. And so, yes, the tone did change because we learned that these folks are really entrepreneurs, and they want to be good business people... They're really going to provide responsible businesses and jobs for Coloradans."
News Hawk - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Coloradostatesman.com
Author: Peter Marcus
Contact: Contact Us
Website: High turnout for tax on pot | Colorado Statesman
