What impact will pot legalization in other states have on Colorado (Denver: transplants, sales)

[jHolman91]

So now that California, Nevada and Massachusetts have legalized Recreational pot, How will this affect Colorado as a whole and its impact on Denver inparticular seeing that its the most popular city in the state.

[bluescreen73]

The impact will be minimal. Denver was booming before pot was legalized and the city has one of the most diversified economies in the country. Vastly more people move here for the jobs and the QOL than the weed.

[jHolman91]

I know that Denver has been growing since before pot legalization, Denvers my other home and has been since I was little. But I know that the pot made it explode like crazy and has jump started the love affair with Denver into overdrive thats spurred other factors into play. I know pot, While not the main reason for everything going skyhigh was a huge factor in Denvers current issues because I was on a vacation there almost a year and a half before legalization, And while it was very crowded with traffic then, it wasn't packed like it was when I returned in 2013. And Im aware that Denvers been expensive for years before that, Even in the early 2000s my family would always go out there and looked at properties and were shocked at the prices but they paled in comparison to boulder prices even in 02. I remember Boulder being unlivable for common folk even then so the whole Denver has always been expensive like it is now argument is mute to me.

I believe there will be a decent drop in young transplants leaving the city and state for the other states due to the rising cost of living there, so there will be some drop in out of state traffic as well as new young people coming in. But none of us will see it for quite a while and the ones who have good jobs wont be leaving those behind because why would you, Denvers freakin awesome.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by jHolman91

I believe there will be a decent drop in young transplants leaving the city and state for the other states due to the rising cost of living

California? Massachusetts? Lower CoL?

[alloo66]

My thoughts are the growth might slow down. People will now have five states to choose from instead of just Washington and Colorado. California being the largest state in population and being the place where most people move from should slow the migration. What do I know? Nothing just a hunch.

[jHolman91]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

California? Massachusetts? Lower CoL?

Well not lower but are more of a stable in their COL. California has always been expensive but the wages have gone up as did the CoL. Though im glad Colorado finally decided to up the minimum wage to 10 by 2020. that should have happened a while ago. Point is that these places have legalized it and should relieve some pressure and these places were expensive long before denver became what it is so people are already prepared for the prices.

[TCHP]

Originally Posted by jHolman91

I know pot, While not the main reason for everything going skyhigh was a huge factor in Denvers current issues because I was on a vacation there almost a year and a half before legalization, And while it was very crowded with traffic then, it wasn't packed like it was when I returned in 2013.

The problem with this scenario is that recreational weed was not commercially available until 2014. I can't believe crowds of people were moving here a year in advance waiting for the release. IMO, legal weed has been an additional data point or a tip over point for inbound migration, not a primary reason for it.

Originally Posted by jHolman91

I believe there will be a decent drop in young transplants leaving the city and state for the other states due to the rising cost of living there, so there will be some drop in out of state traffic as well as new young people coming in. But none of us will see it for quite a while and the ones who have good jobs wont be leaving those behind because why would you, Denvers freakin awesome.

This actually has been happening for a lot of this century already. Can't see it changing much in the near future. BU CO is such a great place for young, active, motivated people, I can't see the influx changing really at all. A percentage will stay, but a percentage will always leave.

COL, government, and other issues will continue to drive people out of CA and MA and a percentage of them will still come here.

[O.A.Bachlow]

Here in Toronto - I live on a very gentrified block...Pot is technically illegal- but pot stores abound. There is a bank building of all places that is a pot store. It is the property of the king of Canadian pot. What I noticed was there is a very large constant flow of people going in and out- my fear is that I do notice some undesirables coming into the community. It is just a matter of time when there is an incident. It will eventually degrade my street.

The cops have closed the place down a couple of times...and what they do is take the proceeds....now from what I know the pot sales people have multiple runners that do bank drop offs as fast as possible...the government has not figured out how to tax these guys...so they use police.

One smaller place was raided on the other side of town...the police took the afternoon proceeds - about 10 thousand dollars...I guess that is the tax.

[Mezter]

People will start to see that Weed wasn't the only reason the city was growing so much

[MN_Ski]

Originally Posted by TCHP

The problem with this scenario is that recreational weed was not commercially available until 2014. I can't believe crowds of people were moving here a year in advance waiting for the release. IMO, legal weed has been an additional data point or a tip over point for inbound migration, not a primary reason for it.




This actually has been happening for a lot of this century already. Can't see it changing much in the near future. BU CO is such a great place for young, active, motivated people, I can't see the influx changing really at all. A percentage will stay, but a percentage will always leave.

COL, government, and other issues will continue to drive people out of CA and MA and a percentage of them will still come here.

But it DID cause people to move here years before it happened. I remember way back in 2008, all of my friends in high school were moving here because of the upcoming/growing med MJ industry. And that was just Med. But back then, any of the slightest sign of some legalization caused people to become interested. I remember seeing all these people on Facebook and message boards way back in 2011/2012 talking about how Rec was coming to Colorado, and how everyone wanted to move here.

Here how I think the series of demand worked out.:

Legalization > Increased Demand > Job Creation > Strong Economy > Population Boom

This boom wasn't solely caused by legalization, but it definitely closed the gap to make this a desirable place to live. Once it became desirable, the companies and the jobs followed. Were at the point of no return here, and it's not like everything is just going to start crashing down. But legalization might have been Denvers last Horrah for the next few decades. And Denver has always been a city that has tried to be on the cutting edge to attract people, and to make up for it's non coastal status, it's winter, it's remoteness, etc.