February 2021

Welcome

Dear Friend,

What a month! The Colorado Legislature resumed their 2021 legislative session on February 16th, which means we at Colorado NORML have been very busy. Our full attention has been directed at both proposed bills and the backlog of bills left over from the 2020 session. The Legislature resumes their session with approximately $1.5 billion in uncommitted funds. With COVID relief still a pressing issue and many other bills either formally introduced or in the works, lawmakers will have to be especially strategic about which bills they direct their energy behind.

There have been multiple cannabis-related bills introduced since the resumption of the legislative session, which can be viewed below:

• SB21-056 - EXPAND CANNABIS-BASED MEDICINE AT SCHOOLS
  • PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
• HB21-1058 PROMOTING SOCIAL DISTANCING IN MARIJUANA INDUSTRY
  • Business Committee - WED. MAR 3RD 1:30 - RM 112
  • REGISTER HERE
  • SEND ACTION ALERT
• HB21-1090 - CRIMINAL MARIJUANA OFFENSES
  • Appropriations Committee - TUES. MAR 2nd 7:30
• SB21-111 - PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MARIJUANA ENTREPRENEURS
  • Judiciary Committee - TUES. MAR 9th - 1:30 PM - RM 107

You may have also seen our email about a bill that has not been introduced yet: a bill that would put a cap on THC potency. Please keep an eye out for action alerts from us on this vital issue. Another bill at the Capitol you will see an action letter to send out to the business committee in support of promoting social distancing in the marijuana industry. Blue Rising and SMART Colorado came in opposition to the bill; we will need your help in testimony and in numbers.

In addition to fighting the possibility of a proposed potency cap, there is plenty of other work to be done during this session. We will continue working on and paying attention to efforts to codify Governor Polis’ executive orders for telehealth and curbside pickup, as well as continue encouraging lawmakers to further expand the expungement of cannabis-related offenses.

This is where you come in. Our virtual Lobby Week will run from March 15th-19th over Zoom! We are currently in the midst of arranging meetings with Colorado lawmakers so that you - our members and their constituents - can share your thoughts, feedback, and concerns directly. Please watch your inbox for more information!

On behalf of all of us at Colorado NORML, thank you for reading, and we hope to see you at our second chapter meeting of 2021 on March 9th at 6 pm MST.

Sincerely,

Ashley Weber

Executive Director, Colorado NORML

Chapter Meetings Update

We are excited to announce that we will be resuming our monthly chapter meetings for 2021! Due to COVID-19 the meetings will be held over Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday of each month! Meetings will run from 6 pm-7:30 pm MST. This month’s theme is Women's History Month: Cannabis Legislation, Women of Cannabis, and the Cannabis Community. We will be discussing recent 2021 legislative bills. There will even be a hemp cooking demo, so please join us! As an added bonus, if you join our meeting, provide your email and it will be entered into a drawing for some CO NORML gear!

March Meeting Speakers:

Jeri Shepherd - Communications Director, Colorado NORML, Attorney, DNC Delegate

Tye Lam - Kind Meds Dispensary

Carla Boyd - Professional Cannabis Chef, Hemp Way Foods

We held our first virtual chapter meeting last month on Feb. 9th. We encountered minor difficulties, but overall it was a success; If you missed the meeting, you can view it below!

2021 Memberships

In the wake of 2020, and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado’s cannabis industry is entering new territory. Our organization is working to advocate for both patients and recreational marijuana users, but now that the 2021 Legislative Session has resumed, we are going to need your help. The best way to help us further our mission during this unprecedented time is by becoming a member. Your membership - either as an individual or a business - helps keep our organization running. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of membership, click here.

Upcoming Legislation

If you would like to sign up to testify in person or write a letter about a bill that is being heard by the Legislature, please sign up and register using this link. Follow upcoming legislation via our website below

Other Recent News

THC Bill Update

To watch videos of the stakeholder meetings that have taken place, please visit our YouTube channel here.

Lobby Week!

Lobby Week will take place from March 15th-19th. We will be sending out more information via email soon, but you can also access all of the information about Lobby Week here.

February Sponsors:

Lifetime Sponsors:

1144 15th St Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202 | (720) 319-7337 | [email protected]

Tell Your Lawmakers: Support HB21-1058 Promoting Social Distancing in Marijuana Industry

Dear Friend,

Ashley Weber

Executive Director, Colorado NORML

P.S. Don't forget, our second chapter meeting of 2021 is on March 9th at 6 pm MST!

Lifetime Sponsors:

1144 15th St Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202 | (720) 319-7337 | [email protected]

Social Equity Discussion with Expert John Bailey

Dear Friend,

John Bailey of the Black Cannabis Equity Initiative will be joining us via Zoom this Friday, Feb 26th from 6-7 pm MST! We will be going live on Facebook - please be there and send in any questions you would like answered through the chat feature.

We hope you will join us.

Sincerely,

Ashley Weber

Executive Director, Colorado NORML

P.S. Don't forget, our second chapter meeting of 2021 is on March 9th at 6 pm MST!

Lifetime Sponsors:

1144 15th St Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202 | (720) 319-7337 | [email protected]

THC Cap Potency Discussion with Rep. Yadira Caraveo

Dear Friend,

We will be joining a Zoom call with Rep. Yadira Caraveo this Thursday - TOMORROW- , Feb 25th from 4-5 pm MST to discuss the THC Bill draft! This Bill would send cannabis back YEARS to a prohibitive state of mind capping THC at 15%.

THC "Regulate Marijuana" bullet points here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AHUaYCJ79iqHvRW9shvYYdxEU8yxmqoG/view?usp=drivesdk

We hope you will join us in solidarity.

Sincerely,

Ashley Weber

Executive Director, Colorado NORML

P.S. Don't forget, our second chapter meeting of 2021 is on March 9th at 6 pm MST!

Lifetime Sponsors:

1144 15th St Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202 | (720) 319-7337 | [email protected]