The Transcript 5
February 27, 2014
Hickenlooper unveils pot plans Retail marijuana revenue exceeds expectations By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Marijuana tax revenues that exceeded original expectations will go toward youth pot-use deterrence programs, substance abuse treatment and other services, under a proposal released by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Feb. 19. The state expects to rake in $184 million in total marijuana revenue by the end of June 2015, with about $153 million of that coming from retail pot sales that began on January 1, according to projections by the governor’s office. The remainder of the projected pot revenue will come from medical marijuana sales. Retail pot sales are projected to reach $610 million next fiscal year. That’s a significant increase from Legislative Council projections tied to last year’s retail pot tax structure bill, which set a gross retail pot sales forecast of $395 million. The revenue comes as a result of last year’s voter-backed Proposition AA, which imposed a 15 percent excise tax and a 10
Gov. John Hickenlooper motions to his cabinet, seated in the House chambers in the Colorado State Capitol, during the State of the State speech in Denver on Jan. 8. The governor said in a proposal that marijuana tax revenues will go toward youth pot-use deterrence programs, substance abuse treatment and other services. Photo by Hannah Garcia percent retail tax on all retail marijuana transactions that became legal through 2012’s Amendment 64.
The first $40 million of annual excise tax revenue goes toward school construction and the rest goes into the Marijuana Cash Fund, which pays for industry regulations that are overseen by the Department of Revenue. With the additional projected revenue, Hickenlooper will seek $99 million next fiscal year to fund programs aimed at providing “responsible regulation for adultuse marijuana and the effective allocation of resources to protect public safety, and health and to prevent underage use,” the governor said through a budget proposal letter submitted to the Joint Budget Committee. “Indeed, we view our top priority as creating an environment where negative impacts on children from marijuana legalization are avoided completely,” Hickenlooper’s letter reads. “Underage use of marijuana can have long-lasting effects on individuals and communities.” Hickenlooper proposes that the state spend $45.5 million over the next two fiscal years for youth marijuana use prevention and deterrence. Priorities include the transferring of $5 million from the Marijuana Cash Fund, which Hickenlooper wants to go toward grants for school health professionals who will educate students about marijuana use.
Other youth-targeted spending will go toward a youth marijuana education campaign that aims to curb pot use among kids. Another $40 million of Hickenlooper’s marijuana spending proposal will go toward substance abuse treatment programs. That includes $7 million that will pay for 105 residential drug treatment beds and another $4 million for services that help those leaving residential treatment centers continue their drug treatment in their communities. The governor’s budget request also includes money for law enforcement and public safety and public health programs related to marijuana awareness. Hickenlooper acknowledged in his letter to the Joint Budget Committee that these numbers are merely projections and that his proposal leaves room for “forecast fluctuations and unknown needs that could arise during the year.” “Given the many uncertainties surrounding Marijuana Cash Fund projections and the potential need for additional funding for the Department of Revenue’s marijuana-related enforcement activities, this package represents a strong first step toward ensuring a safe and responsible regulatory environment,” Hickenlooper said.
Lawsuit against state over gay marriage Suit says ban denies couples ‘equal protection’ By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Blasting Colorado’s gay marriage ban as a law that creates “two classes of citizens,” a group of nine gay couples have filed a lawsuit against the state that could pave the way toward same-sex marriage here. The lawsuit was filed in Denver District Court on Feb. 19, and it alleges that a 2006 voter-backed referendum banning gay marriage denies same-sex couples “equal protection, due process and basic fairness,” which violates the U.S. Constitution. “Colorado’s exclusion of same-sex couples from the institution of marriage has adversely impacted the plaintiffs and other Colorado same-sex couples in real and significant ways,” the lawsuit reads. Nine couples who reside in different parts of the state are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They include a former Arvada police officer who lives with her partner of more than three years and their 5-yearold son; a Littleton couple who were the first couple to be issued a civil union in Arapahoe County last year; and a Lone Tree couple of 12 years who recently married in Washington state because they could not
do so here. “The situations faced by these couples are similar to those faced by many other same-sex couples in Colorado who are denied the basic rights, privileges and protections of marriage for themselves and their children,” the lawsuit states. Eight years ago, Colorado voters through Amendment 43 changed the state’s Constitution to define marriage between a man and a woman. But a lot has happened since that time. As of this month, 17 states have legalized same-sex marriage. And just last year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied gay couples federal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy. Most recently, challenges to same-sex marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma have been brought before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. Last year, the Legislature created civil unions in Colorado. But the lawsuit states that the new protections don’t go far enough. “Like many other couples with a lifelong commitment, the unmarried plaintiffs are spouses in every sense, except that Colorado law will not allow them to marry, instead only offering them the second-class and unequal options of civil unions,” the lawsuit states. Gay lawmakers agreed.
HAVE A LEGISLATIVE QUESTION? Email Colorado Community Media Legislative Reporter Vic Vela at vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com or call 303-566-4132.
“We made progress with civil unions last year, but obviously that’s not enough,” said Rep. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, who is gay. “That still denies a lot of couples some critical federal benefits they could be getting if they were married.” House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, Colorado’s first openly gay House speaker, said the lawsuit was “inevitable” and that public opinion on gay marriage has shifted dramatically since the Colorado ban was put in place
“People have a fear of the unknown in some sense,” Ferrandino said. “So, once people start seeing same-sex couples in relationships, and they have friends and relatives who are in committed relationships, it’s like, ‘Well, this really hasn’t impacted me. And they’re happier, so why would I be against this?’” “The speed at which this is changing both from the public perspective and the legal perspective is faster than almost anything I’ve ever seen.”
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