Advocates battle over Colorado cannabis social equity measure

DENVER (KDVR) — Is Colorado delivering on its promise to make the cannabis industry more diverse and equitable? Some say no​ and they want something done about it — specifically when it comes to marijuana delivery services.

Supporters of a new measure at the Capitol say something needs to change to diversify the cannabis industry and get more people involved with the state’s social equity program for marijuana. Solutions they have come up with have been met with opposition.

Color of Cannabis CEO Sarah Woodson said the state has a good foundation with the program, but more incentives are needed to ensure business owners have greater access to products and a better way to get the goods to customers.

“At the state level we definitely need a new license type because the problem is we are coming in 10 years behind and the whole entire market is saturated,” Woodson said.

Currently, businesses in the social equity program have to contract with brick-and-mortar locations to get the product and then deliver it to their customers. A new bill at the Capitol would eliminate that barrier.

“What we’ve seen in the last three years is stores don’t want to contract. So, this would allow social equity operators to have full autonomy over their business and buy direct from the cultivator and the manufacturer and then deliver directly to consumers,” Woodson said.

Would a new social equity program structure help?

Folks participating in the social equity program said the current structure is stopping them from doing business.

“I’ve been out to stores to ask to try to contract; we keep getting shut down. It does come to a point where it feels like you are begging someone to work with you. So at this point, it’s not operational. I’m definitely still licensed. We have pivoted over to manufacturing- just because I don’t want the delivery to go to waste,” said Desiree Duran, CEO of High Point Transport and Delivery.

“We just need a chance, we want a chance, give us a chance. You know that’s what we’re asking for — to get this bill passed that we are trying to get through right now for delivery,” said Duran. “Some of us are operational if we are lucky enough to be operational, some of us are nonoperational, some of us have closed down altogether. I’m still holding on to see what this bill does and if we can get it through.”

The new bill is sponsored by state Rep. Naquetta Ricks. She sponsored a measure last year to overhaul the social equity program and replace it with a structure advocates felt would work better for business and spur more applicants. That bill failed, but she hopes this one sees better results.

“Colorado already is 20 years behind in creating social equity,” Ricks said. “It’s too important for us to let go. We have to keep fighting to ensure there is equity for these small businesses. Who should be able to engage and access this market.”

Industry leaders like Colorado Leads said they are monitoring the bill. One Chance to Grow Up said they are opposed to the measure because they philosophically opposed to marijuana delivery. The bill was set to be heard in the Business Affairs and Labor Committee on Wednesday afternoon.