How much of an impact do you feel the MJ legalization on the entire West Coast will have on inbound Colorado migration? (unemployment rate, tax)

[79Vespa303]

With California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada now legalized for recreational use, do you think it will make Colorado a less attractive destination with our high cost of living, cold winters and no ocean access? Could we actually see a slowdown in Colorado growth over the next several years now that there are a lot of other legalized states to choose from?

[SkyDog77]

This makes the unproven leap that our growth was largely based on legal pot. I don’t think that’s the case.

[Quietude]

I really have to question the idea that any great number of people would move here (or, pretty much anywhere) just because of legal weed.

The tax revenue is a plus that might lead to more desirable QOL, but relocating here (or to MA, or now CA) just so you can walk to a dispensary? Seems unlikely. So I would guess that influx will continue to be for the other reasons - weather , strong economy, more general QOL issues.

And... I'd just as soon that anyone who moves here for the weed... doesn't.

[Norrov]

Maybe less dumb kids and bums will come here, but I don’t think it’s a huge factor in our growth. People enjoy the city, climate and the proximity to the mountains here. It’s a great place to live.

[mhays25]

The extremely low unemployment rate is evidence that pot hasn't been a huge factor. That only counts people actually in the labor force, but if a lot of slackers were showing up and at least trying to get jobs, unemployment would look very different. (I'm not suggesting that all pot smokers are slackers.)

Colorado grew more slowly in the 7/1/16 to 7/1/17 period. It grew by 63,000 vs. 90,000 in the previous year. This is notable given the high employment. I suspect some of that was due to prices...people streamed in when the state was relatively cheap, but as prices approach coastal levels it's more of a moderate-growth state.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by Norrov

Maybe less dumb kids and bums will come here...

"Dumbs and bums." There's a phrase worth keeping at hand.

[flamadiddle]

If I were a bettin man, I'd bet you will see a "slowdown".

[TCHP]

Originally Posted by Norrov

Maybe less dumb kids and bums will come here, but I don’t think it’s a huge factor in our growth. People enjoy the city, climate and the proximity to the mountains here. It’s a great place to live.

Now, this, I think may be the case. I hope we may also see some of these "dumbs and bums" migrating to CA for the milder climate

[79Vespa303]

Thank for for the thoughtful replies. I am hoping the greater range of other legal states will slow down some of the growth we have experienced in the last few years. Thanks!

[emm74]

I think that it bears watching but what I've seen has indicated that it's a very small percentage of people moving here for legal pot, so I would expect a limited impact.

We may lose out on a bit of pot tourism, though.