House Bill 19-1230 has been introduced into the Colorado legislature and if passed into law it would create regulated cannabis hospitality establishments, according to a story in Westword.
The bill would allow regulators in Colorado to begin issuing licenses for “cannabis hospitality establishments” in January 2020. The bill would also clean up the rules regarding cannabis tours, which are already happening in the state despite existing in a legal gray area.
“Coloradans voted for the freedom to choose cannabis as an alternative. But we have not extended similar liberties to the consumption aspect of cannabis legalization. With this legislation, we are upholding the will of voters while providing a safe and responsible place for people to consume outside of parks and off of the street.” — Senator Vicki Marble (R-Fort Collins), via Westword
Former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) vetoed a similar bill last year but current Gov. Jared Polis (D) is expected to be far more open to the legislation.
Other cannabis industry advocates like Cindy Sovine, a lobbyist who’s also attempting to open the nation’s first cannabis spa, believe HB 1230 is the solution to a number of problems faced by cannabis consumers in Colorado. “This legislation is about harm reduction and monitoring intoxication. It is about honoring the reality that if we benefit economically from the sale of cannabis products, we should also be respecting where and how it is consumed,” said Sovine.
The bill was introduced March 8 and is currently facing committee consideration.
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