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.”
Truman Bradley, MIG’s executive director, offers this explanation for the lack of BoCo representation on the list: “Some of the strongest prohibitionist rhetoric comes out of Boulder,” he says. “There are prohibitionist groups in Boulder that have very deep pockets. They’re not shy about really wanting to put the clamps down on the industry.”
Most recently, Boulder parents and health care providers have been lobbying for a ban on high-potency cannabis products — “the single largest product in the marketplace,” according to Bradley, accounting for 42% of sales.
“It will be devastating to anyone in the industry,” he says. “If you take those products out of the regulated market, you’re basically rolling out the red carpet for an illicit market,” which has none of the regulations or safety requirements that legal cannabis companies are subject to.
“We will die on the hill that products belong in the regulated market. That’s the policy that’s safest for Colorado.”
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 Bradley. “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
Whether you want to support cannabis-friendly candidates or use this as a list of who not to vote for, here are the MIG-approved politicians and ballot measures in Colorado:
Local candidates and issuesKaren McCormick, HD11Town of Erie Ballot Issue 3C: Yes
Other candidates
Colorado HouseHD1: Javier Mabrey (D)HD4: Cecelia Espenoza (D)HD6: Sean Camacho (D)HD8: Lindsay Gilchrist (D)HD13: Julie McCluskie (D)HD16: Stephanie Vigil (D)HD18: Amy Paschal (D)HD23: Monica Duran (D)HD24: Lisa Feret (D)HD26: Nathan Butler (R)HD27: Brianna Titone (D)HD29: Shannon Bird (D)HD32: Manny Rutinel (D)HD33: William Lindstedt (D)HD34: Jenny Willford (D)HD37: Chad Clifford (D)HD46: Tisha Mauro (D)HD50: Ryan Gonzalez (R)HD51: Sarah McKeen (D)HD57: Elizabeth Velasco (D)HD61: Eliza Hamrick (D)
Colorado SenateSD5: Cole Buerger (D)SD6: Cleave Simpson (R)SD6: Vivian Smotherman (D)SD12: Marc Snyder (D)SD13: Matt Johnston (D)SD14: Cathy Kipp (D)SD21: Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D)SD31: Chris Hansen (D)OtherEl Paso County Commissioner: Detra Duncan (D)Initiatives
Marijuana Industry Group (MIG) debuts statewide “Green Voter Guide” for Colorado elected officials. Boulder Weekly Read More