Schedule I to III?
The DEA is moving forward with a plan to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug–those considered the most dangerous and addictive, with no medical value–to a Schedule III drug that can be lawfully prescribed as medication. This bureaucratic move wouldn’t legalize pot at the federal level, but it would be the biggest change in marijuana policy the federal government has taken since the drug was first outlawed. Marijuana has been a Schedule I drug since the Controlled Substances Act was signed in 1970.
Billo Art
Billo is launching a series of wearable art pieces in partnership with Colorado-based Wana, soliciting submissions from local artists to create artwork to be printed on T-shirts and other wearables this summer. “We both hold the talents of local artists in high regard and are looking at a creative way to showcase their works among our customers,” says Billo’s Dave Wittlinger, adding the shirts will be available in limited supply and used as giveaways and sold at retail. The goal, he adds, is to release three original art pieces this summer, with submissions limited to artists residing in either Routt or Moffat counties. Selected art will be chosen based on the following themes: June: “Pride”; July: “Freedom”; August: “Outdoors.” Winners of each category will get $400 and a $100 Billo gift certificate.
New Reefer Rules: Online Ordering and “Use-By” Dates
Ten years after recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado, new rules for the industry aim to boost operational efficiencies and change how you buy and consume cannabis. The new rules are the result of a series of stakeholder work group meetings and roughly 300 written submissions. The biggest change: retail marijuana stores are now allowed to accept payment for products ordered online (online ordering became legal in Colorado last year, but customers were still required to pay in-person). Customers need to provide their name and date of birth to purchase over the internet; upon pick-up, the store must then verify the customer’s identification. Another rule change this year mandates all marijuana retail packaging to include a “use-by date”—not to convey the product’s expiration but when it is supposed to reach the end of its optimal quality and freshness
Dope Sales Down
Dope sales are in a decline. According to the Colorado Department Revenue, the past six years have seen a significant decline in the state’s retail marijuana tax revenue collections. Last year, the tax revenue collected by the state from the retail marijuana industry was its lowest since it took in $247.3 million in 2017. In 2023, the state took in just over $255 million—down from over $325 million in 2022 and a whopping $423.4 million in 2021.
