{"id":2264180,"date":"2024-06-10T15:47:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T19:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorados-cannabis-industry-going-up-in-smoke-its-not-looking-good-for-americas-first-legal-weed-experiment\/"},"modified":"2024-06-10T15:53:05","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T19:53:05","slug":"colorados-cannabis-industry-going-up-in-smoke-its-not-looking-good-for-americas-first-legal-weed-experiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorados-cannabis-industry-going-up-in-smoke-its-not-looking-good-for-americas-first-legal-weed-experiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado&#8217;s Cannabis Industry in Trouble: America&#8217;s Pioneer Legal Weed Experiment Faces Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcolorados-cannabis-industry-going-up-in-smoke-its-not-looking-good-for-americas-first-legal-weed-experiment%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2264180&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The commentary piece from the Western Journal, written by Michael\u2064 Austin, discusses the declining state \u2064of Colorado&#8217;s \u200ccannabis industry, which was initially expected to generate substantial \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-trump-americans-have-seen-their-best-wage-growth-in-40-years\/\" title=\"Under Trump, Americans Have Seen Their Best Wage Growth In 40 Years\">economic benefits<\/a> as the first\u2064 U.S.\u2064 state to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-was-recreational-marijuana-use-recently-legalized-in-minnesota\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Was Recreational Marijuana Use Recently Legalized In Minnesota?\">legalize recreational marijuana<\/a>. The article notes that while the \u200bindustry \u2063achieved a peak revenue of $2.2 billion in 2020, by 2023 it had \u200bdropped to $1.5 billion, leading to job losses and\u2063 business closures. The decrease in tax revenue derived \u200bfrom cannabis sales,\u2062 which fell by 30% over two\u200c years, is also highlighted.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d piece suggests that the initial success of Colorado&#8217;s cannabis \u2064market was largely due to its early start in legalization, which temporarily created a monopoly\u2063 as residents of neighboring states traveled to Colorado \u200bfor marijuana\u2063 purchases. However, as other states like Texas, New Mexico,\u2064 and Arizona have\u2062 since legalized cannabis,\u200d Colorado&#8217;s competitive\u2062 edge has diminished.<\/p>\n<p>Further \u200cissues such as the pervasive\u200b smell of cannabis \u2063causing local discontent and potential \u200bimplications \u200bfor neighborhood identity and \u2062youth exposure\u200d are discussed. Despite the financial contributions the industry has made, \u2064there are significant \u200bproblems that remain unresolved. The article also criticizes federal regulations, arguing that national legalization could \u2063alleviate some \u2064of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/eu-lawmakers-call-for-more-legal-migration-to-supposedly-stop-illegal-immigration\/\" title=\"EU Lawmakers Call for More Legal Migration to Supposedly Stop Illegal Immigration\">economic challenges facing<\/a> the\u2064 Colorado cannabis market by reducing or eliminating certain \u200crestrictions.<\/p>\n<p>the article paints a bleak picture of the outcomes\u2062 associated with the legalization of\u2064 cannabis in Colorado, \u200bchallenging earlier optimistic views and raising questions about the long-term viability and\u2062 impact of such \u2063policies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>  <\/p>\n<h2>Colorado&#8217;s Cannabis Industry Going Up in Smoke: It&#8217;s Not Looking Good for America&#8217;s First &#8216;Legal Weed&#8217; Experiment<\/h2>\n<p> <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/maustin\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/maustin\/%20\"><span>Michael Austin<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 10, 2024 at 10:04am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Liberals and libertarians alike were sure that marijuana legalization would be a boon for the American people.<\/p>\n<p>They said it would save economies, remedy people and completely revitalize states that embraced it.<\/p>\n<p>Well, now that the honeymoon period is over, it appears that there have been some trade-offs, namely shuttered businesses, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-jobs-numbers-come-lower-expected-unemployment-rate-rises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unemployed people<\/a> and public areas that constantly reek of weed.<\/p>\n<p>A Sunday report from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2024\/06\/09\/colorado-weed-market-00157118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Politico<\/a> revealed exactly how disappointing the Colorado cannabis market has been in the state just ten years since recreational use of the drug first became legal in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>According to the outlet, the once-touted budding industry is now \u201ca trail of failed businesses and cash-strapped entrepreneurs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, the market generated a staggering $2.2 billion.<\/p>\n<p>As of 2023, sales dipped to $1.5 billion, resulting in layoffs and the aforementioned shuttering of businesses.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fierce-democrat-led-effort-remove-trump-colorado-primary-ballot-huge-win-gives-last-laugh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Colorado<\/a> tax revenues from cannabis products, once touted as a major benefit to be gained from legalizing weed, have dipped 30 percent in the past two years as well, per Politico.<\/p>\n<p>Politico partly blames competition for the sharp economic decline.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Should cannabis remain illegal at the federal level?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Though many weed users from nearby states once went out of their way to acquire Colorado cannabis, since states like Texas, New Mexico and Arizona legalized the drug as well, they no longer needed to make the long trip.<\/p>\n<p>The supposed economic boom touted by liberal and libertarian weed-lovers had been artificially propped up by Colorado\u2019s early adoption of the product, which essentially created a pseudo-state monopoly.<\/p>\n<p>But those days are long gone, and with them, the many economic benefits once thought to be simply the beginning of greater gains to come.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, Politico places much of the blame at the feet of the federal government which still classifies the drug as illegal.<\/p>\n<p>If federally legalized, many regulations would be reduced or eliminated, leading to greater profitability for the market.<\/p>\n<p>But the economic decline isn\u2019t the only bad news to come out of the Colorado <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-man-drives-5-year-old-around-smoking-weed-hands-kid-drugs-unthinkable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weed<\/a> market in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Another persistent marijuana-produced problem faced by Coloradans has been the unavoidable stench.<\/p>\n<p>According to reports from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westword.com\/marijuana\/denver-wants-marijuana-growers-less-stinky-17408357\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Denver Westword<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/kdvr.com\/news\/data\/why-the-smell-of-weed-lingers-down-i-70\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KDVR<\/a> (Fox\u2019s local Denver affiliate) in 2023 and 2022 respectively, the drug\u2019s smell has caused some real problems for locals.<\/p>\n<p>The Westword reports that the local Denver government adopted various regulations in 2017 to help combat the smell caused by the drug to no avail.<\/p>\n<p>According to KDVR, those laws included various zoning restrictions to limit the number of weed cultivation facilities per neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, the 96 locations along Interstate 70 have created a \u201cpotent smell\u201d for all drivers who happen to pass a certain stretch of the highway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cannabis industry has provided thousands of jobs for Denver and is a key economic and tax revenue contributor to our community,\u201d said Molly Duplechian, executive director of the Department of Excise and Licenses.<\/p>\n<p>She added: \u201cHowever, we remain determined to protect neighborhoods from undue concentration, so the history and cultural identity of our neighborhoods are protected, and youth exposure is limited.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As those jobs and financial benefits diminish, the number of excuses Dupechian and others have for not taking more definitive action lessens by the minute.<\/p>\n<p>Even if they don\u2019t, greater tax revenues for the government isn\u2019t a great selling point for voters who know that very same government isn\u2019t willing to keep their neighborhoods from smelling like a pothead\u2019s apartment.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We who work here at The Western Journal have fought for years against Big Tech and the elites who want to shut us down and then shut America down. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Make no mistake \u2014 nothing will be the same after November 2024. Will you help us fight? Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>help us expose the America-hating elites<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  who will do everything they can to steal this election? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We\u2019re a small group of people fighting to save the country for our readers and for our own family and friends. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Can we count on your help?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span>At this point, Big Tech has cut off our access to 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone took 90% of your paycheck and there was nothing you could do. They\u2019re trying to starve us out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Donations from readers like you have literally helped keep our lights on, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>we need you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  now more than ever. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We operate on a shoestring budget, but with that budget, we terrify the globalists. Please help us continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, and we will never surrender.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading The Western Journal and for believing in America. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>It is a pleasure to serve you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please don\u2019t let the America-hating left win. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us today<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45247\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/maustin\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Manager of Writing and Reporting<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45247\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45247\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45247\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45247\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Michael wrote for a number of entertainment news outlets before joining The Western Journal in 2020 as a staff reporter. He now manages the writing and reporting teams, overseeing the production of commentary, news and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/audiences-crave-older-movies-theatrical-re-release-trend-gains-steam-worldwide\/\" title=\"Movie Buffs Desire Vintage Films: Global Resurgence of Theatrical Re-Releases\">original reporting content<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Ames, Iowa <\/p>\n<p>  Nationality <\/p>\n<p>  American <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  Iowa State University <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Culture, Faith, Politics, Education, Entertainment <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colorado&#8217;s pioneering legal marijuana experiment is faltering. Both liberals and libertarians had predicted that legalization would boost the economy, heal citizens, and rejuvenate states. However, the reality is proving less optimistic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2093,"featured_media":2264181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/dispensary-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2264180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/dispensary-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2264180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2093"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2264180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2264180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2264181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2264180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2264180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2264180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}