Blog

Since the passing of the Colorado state legislation in September of 2013, legalizing the purchase and possession of marijuana for non-card holding adults, new marijuana dispensaries are popping up all over the place. In fact, approximately $700 million worth of recreational marijuana was sold in Colorado last year, the first full year that the law was in effect. If you enjoy the occasional date with Mary Jane, you might find yourself a bit overwhelmed with the array of choices. Walking into one of these places, with countless strains and methods of consumption available, can be a bit overwhelming to a novice. How should you pick which business to lend your support? Well, the answer to that somewhat depends on your preferred method of delivery. How do you like to reap…

Legalization of recreational marijuana use and sale in Denver has had a profound economic impact on the Mile High City, and much of that has been felt in terms of pricing for pot for personal recreational consumption. A decade ago, for example, an ounce of top-quality illegal weed could be bought on the streets of Denver for about $350. Then prices fell about 15 percent about five years ago, a change that was precipitated by the advent of medical marijuana dispensaries. Since people could buy legal pot for medical reasons the black market demand shrank and dealers in the black market had to lower their prices. Once weed became legal for recreational use in Denver, black market prices suffered a very significant hit and virtually collapsed. [table id=2 /] Weed…

When Colorado led the way by legalizing recreational marijuana, it revolutionized the political landscape and set a precedent for other states – and perhaps the nation – to follow. But it also did wonders for the local economy. The legal pot experiment has proved to be a robust source of revenue for marijuana industry entrepreneurs, other sectors like tourism, and for local and state tax collectors.  One group who has not participated in the prosperity so far, however, is the banking community. That’s a bit strange, since banks are usually in on the ground floor whenever business booms in a particular market, acting as primary facilitators of that success. The Unusual Cannabis Conundrum The problem is that the banking system in the United States is federally regulated. If you want…