Denver sends comment to DOJ in support of rescheduling cannabis

DENVER ( KDVR ) —The public comment period for marijuana rescheduling is set to end soon.

Before that happens, leaders with the city of Denver are weighing in with officials in Washington D.C. by submitting a public comment on behalf of the city.

The weed industry in Colorado is not booming the way it once was. Denver’s Excise and Licenses Department said federal rescheduling could help dispensary owners make up for some lost revenue.

Denver has long been seen as a leader in how to sell adult-use marijuana, making the process work for local businesses, consumers and government despite the drug being illegal at the federal level. The city wanted to make sure they weighed in as the federal government listened to comments and concerns from across the nation.

“We’re really hoping that we can provide our input and be a voice in supporting this change,” said Molly Duplechian, executive director of the Denver Excise and Licenses Department. “We submitted a comment today to the federal government as they are considering making a change to how marijuana is scheduled. What we wanted to do is, one: Offer our experience and expertise in what we’ve seen and what we’ve experienced with legalization over the last 10 years, but we also wanted to offer support for this change. We think it’s long overdue and we think it’s a really important and critical change.”

Duplechian said the city wants to make sure the regulatory framework for things like inspections, access for medical marijuana patients and revenue for licensing fees and sales taxes stay intact and continue to fund important programs in the city. They’re also advocating for tax relief for local businesses.

“There is a sense of urgency. One of the really important pieces of a reschedule is that our local marijuana businesses would then be able to take some federal tax deductions, and it’s really critical time for marijuana businesses in Denver. They’re seeing a decline in profits and sales,” Duplechian explained.

There are efforts underway from House Republicans in Washington that would disrupt the move to reschedule marijuana. Duplechian said if the effort does fail, things would stay the same for Denver dispensaries.

“If nothing happens with this proposal and it’s not rescheduled, then the status quo will remain and our business will continue to pay that high tax rate,” Duplechian said.

The public comment period to weigh in closes next week. So far, more than 30,000 comments have been submitted.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.