COLORADO – The Marijuana Industry Group (MIG), Colorado’s cannabis trade association representing more than 400 business licenses across the state, released the first ever statewide Green Voter Guide with endorsements for state level races across Colorado. MIG reached out to all state level candidates to discuss key issues affecting cannabis patients, consumers, workers and small business owners.
“While public safety is at record levels, the entire Colorado cannabis industry is in deep trouble,” said Truman Bradley, Executive Director of MIG. “For too long, a tiny but well funded group of prohibitionists have used shaky science and fear based tactics to cripple the most compliant regulated industry in our state. This Green Voter Guide helps to ensure that the voices of small business owners, patients, consumers, and employees, are being heard.” Nearly 1/3rd of Coloradans have consumed cannabis in the last year. It’s time to connect them with the candidates who support sensible regulation and don’t bring reefer madness to the capitol.”
General criteria the MIG board considered to determine whether a candidate was eligible to be endorsed included a willingness to:
Streamline outdated regulations and oppose further marijuana specific tax burdens on cannabis small businesses owners, as businesses across the state continue to close their doors.
Oppose all potency limits and product prohibitions that would prevent patients from accessing critical medicine while reinvigorating the illicit market.
Offer support for legislation allowing adults in Colorado to purchase what they are allowed to legally possess.
Youth use of marijuana in Colorado has dropped 42% since legalization. Meanwhile, Colorado cannabis small businesses face a combined rate of at least 30% recreational excise and sales taxes, on top of an effective federal tax rate of over 70%.
Recreational and medical marijuana sales numbers released recently by the Colorado Department of Revenue showed a continued, steep sales decline for marijuana. Cannabis sales are down nearly $700 million in the last two years. At the same time, the state collected 35% less in cannabis tax revenue, putting at risk critical public programs that marijuana businesses help fund including affordable housing, mental health, public safety, and education.
Strong majorities across all regions of the state and along all party lines support legalized cannabis. According to recent polling, 71% of Coloradans support legalized cannabis, with a majority of voters (55%) say they strongly support it. This included 85% of Democrats, 74% of Unaffiliated voters, and over 50% of Republicans.
The full list of endorsed candidates is on the MIG website and listed below.
- HD1: Javier Mabrey (D)
- HD4: Cecelia Espenoza (D)
- HD6: Sean Camacho (D)
- HD8: Lindsay Gilchrist (D)
- HD11: Karen McCormick (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)
- HD13: Julie McCluskie (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)
- SD5: 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)
- Douglas County Commissioner: Detra Duncan (D)
