As the bill is currently written, social equity marijuana applicants and business owners would also have to meet the financial responsibility requirements. Created in 2020 by lawmakers to spur industry involvement in communities impacted by the drug war, Colorado's marijuana social equity program is largely made up of entrepreneurs who struggle to attain financial backing in a federally illegal industry.
If"at any time" a marijuana business owner fails to maintain proof of financial responsibility, the MED would immediately suspend the business owner's license until such proof is provided, the bill notes., there are no lobbying organizations currently supporting SB 045, but seven marijuana businesses and trade groups are officially listed as"monitoring" the bill.
Marijuana industry organizations were surprised to see the bill, and none of the five trade groups thatcontacted were ready to comment. However, pot lobby representatives say they expect a stakeholder meeting with Rodriguez soon, and anticipate that the measure will be amended or pulled altogether. Rodriguez didn't respond to multiple requests for comment.
If the bill moves on, a prolonged debate could occur over requiring liability insurance for Colorado marijuana businesses, still a relatively novel concept in legal marijuana. Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida and Illinois have various financial responsibility qualifications for marijuana business owners, according to online insurance marketplace, while Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington require marijuana business owners to have liability coverage.
Colorado has seen financial requirements at the local level before. When Aurora started accepting recreational dispensary applications in 2013, any potential owners had to prove they had been residents of Colorado for at least two years and had $400,000 in liquid assets.