A new policy in Denver could curb the city’s public cannabis consumption issues while helping business owners branch out into cannabis tourism. An NPR report has highlighted a partnership between the Marijuana Policy Project’s Mason Tvert and Councilman Albus Brooks which proposes the legalization of cannabis bars and clubs in Denver. The proposal could lead to the explosion of a more robust cannabis tourism industry in Denver, putting it alongside Amsterdam as one of the world’s premier destinations for canna-seurs.
One driving factor behind the policy are the 1,000-plus public consumption cannabis citations handed out by Denver’s police last year, a 471% increase since marijuana became legal in Colorado. “Our intention with pursuing this initiative was to reduce the likelihood that adults would consume marijuana publicly on the streets or in parks and instead consume it in private establishments,” Tvert told NPR.
The proposal is facing a mixed reaction from restaurant and bar owners in Denver, but some believe it is just a matter of time before some kind of legislation around the issue is passed. While details and timeline of the plan are still in flux, it can be seen as a positive step for tourists, residents, and businesses alike in the effort to safely legalize all aspects of cannabis consumption in Colorado.
