The Mile High city wasn’t always filled with smoke. For many in Denver, the battle for cannabis legalization came after many struggles and defeats–it was a well-earned victory. Marijuana has a long history in Colorado, from the plant’s endearing roots to a turbulent (and resilient) prohibition. Weed has been a part of the state’s past, from the very beginning.
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Colorado became a state in 1876, and cannabis was not only legal, it was a regular commodity. Its oil was used for medical treatments, and there were lots of products that were hemp-friendly.
Prohibition struck the state, and Denver faced its first round of cannabis regulation. The restriction of marijuana–possession was ruled as a misdemeanor at the time–was a follow up to the cease of alcohol, enacted a year previously.
Possession, growth, and use of cannabis was dubbed a felony offense in 1929 in Denver. A Westword article from 2012 cites racial discrimination as a reason behind the legislative change, as minorities were targeted as users of marijuana, as seen by both politicians and media at the time.
Decriminalization came as a gift to Coloradans after a long-fought era of free-love and experimentation left residents with little hemp reform to show for it. Legislators heard the cry of the people, and legendary Pitkin County DA swayed Republicans with his why-waste-money-on-marijuana-enforcement argument.
Following the 1996 example that Californians left–by passing legalized marijuana–voters in Denver had the chance to vote yes on Amendment 19. Sadly for mmj supporters, the bill failed.
Those supporters showed up in droves, however, in 2000, and suddenly medical marijuana was no longer a fantasy for people living in Denver. Amendment 20 made changes to the state constitution, making Colorado the first state to legalize medical cannabis in their constitution–a historic landmark both on a national and localized level for cannabis activists and supporters.
Medical marijuana, thanks to Amendment 20, allowed medical consumers to use cannabis to treat certain illnesses.
2012 is what’s known as a historic year for the people of Denver. On November 4, the polls reflected a victory for cannabis enthusiasts everywhere: recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado. Amendment 64 allowed for people over the age of 21 to purchase, use, possess, and grow cannabis for adult use.
Since then, over 62 of the 271 Colorado cities–Denver included–has implemented a form of recreational marijuana regulation, and the numbers are growing. There are state and local laws about production, distribution, and retail, in addition to policies on taxation and sales. According to Wikipedia, during 2014 the retail market for legal marijuana reached $700 million worth of total sales statewide. It was also reported that the 2015-16 fiscal year saw that cannabis brought in $42.5 million in tax revenue, which was divided up for the Colorado Department of Education.
Colorado has paved the way for many states, showing that cannabis can play a large role in successful and growing states, rather than detract. Their historic legalization–tied with Washington State’s 2012 ballot measure–has been the cultivation of long-winded efforts, mainly seen on the legislative battlefield. Cannabis in Denver has gone where no one had gone before, and chances are, there’s still room for growth.
