Colorado Department of Revenue

Colorado's beer festivals are becoming victims of their own success

Crooked Stave still selling bottles, will negotiate with the state over draft beer

Chad Yakobson, owner of the Crooked Stave Barrel Cellar, plans to meet with the Colorado Department of Revenue sometime this week to see if there is a way to sort out the licensing issue that forced him to stop pouring draft beer on Friday. Crooked Stave is still open and can still sell its bottled ... More >>

Crooked Stave Barrel Cellar ordered to stop selling draft beer

The Crooked Stave Barrel Cellar, which opened just a few weeks ago, has been ordered by the Colorado Department of Revenue to stop selling beer on draft. "They have a wholesaler's license, not a manufacturing license, so they can only sell alcohol for off-premises consumption," says Mark Couch, a s ... More >>

Breckenridge Brewery hopes to expand the law and its business

Medical marijuana dispensaries can't deduct business expenses on state tax returns

Marijuana, even of the medical variety, remains illegal at the federal level -- meaning that dispensary owners can't take business deductions on tax returns they submit to the feds. But since MMJ is legal in Colorado, shouldn't they be able to deduct legitimate business expenses on state forms? Mitc ... More >>

Breckenridge-Wynkoop growth: Read the Colorado Department of Revenue's position

Last Friday, June 29, the Colorado Department of Revenue approved a complicated plan that would allow Breckenridge Brewery to grow beyond a 60,000-barrel limit in this state by using a provision known as an "alternating proprietorship." And Breckenridge has been rapidly approaching that limit, par ... More >>

Video: Flaming hash explosion follows High Times concentrates panel

Last Saturday at the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup, I sat in on panel of experts discussing the pros and cons of smoking concentrates extracted by using solvents such as butane and isopropyl alcohol. Little did I realize that only days later, I would experience the risks that come from working wit ... More >>

Marijuana: Englewood MMCs not serving minors, but many bars, restaurants did

U.S. Attorney John Walsh says his seizure-threat letters to medical marijuana dispensaries near schools are intended to protect kids. But in Englewood, it appears that minors are much more likely to get illegal intoxicants from bars, restaurants and liquor stores than MMCs.

Video: See the scariest DMV bathroom ever

DMV branches are often unpleasant, but the men's room at the central Denver branch, at 1865 West Mississippi Avenue, is off-the-charts. Aside from the questionable cleanliness of the facilities seen in the video below, virtually every surface has been tagged by graffiti, transforming the space into ... More >>

Sports Authority Field at Mile High tax ends, stadium finally paid off

Last week marked the end of the Metropolitan Football Stadium tax, the ten cents residents have paid on every $100 since 1990. With the sales tax's end comes the news that Sports Authority Stadium at Mile High is officially paid off. But it hasn't reached the end zone quite yet: As the January 9 dea ... More >>

Department of Revenue chief petitions feds to ease up on MMJ

As mandated by state law, the director of the state Department of Revenue formally requested that the federal government reconsider their position on medical marijuana last week. Thanks to an often-forgotten clause in House Bill 1284, which laid the framework for the current regulatory system in pl ... More >>

Top ten Westword marijuana news stories of 2011

​From regulations changing and shops being raided, to pizza delivery guys calling the cops on tokers, it has been an interesting year for medical marijuana in Colorado. Below is our top ten list of Westword's most popular marijuana stories of 2011 as well as links to the original posts.

Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division's Dan Hartman reassigned in favor of Laura Harris

Dan Hartman.​Update below: Last week's reports from industry sources that Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division director Dan Hartman would be leaving his post have now been confirmed. However, Hartman's not out of a job. He's been reassigned within the Department of Revenue, with another Reve ... More >>

Update: Med. Marijuana Enforcement Division chief Dan Hartman out? Revenue dept. responds

Dan Hartman.​Update: We've now received a response from Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch regarding persistent reports from multiple medical marijuana industry sources that Dan Hartman will depart as director of the state's Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division at day's end. Couch's ... More >>

Marijuana raid: Feds seized 2,500 plants from Cherry Top Farms after following suspect's truck

​This morning, the manager of Cherry Top Farms dispensary, raided yesterday by the DEA and other agencies, shared his version of the story, including his claim that the center was in compliance with all state regs. There's nothing to contradict this claim in info supplied by the U.S. Attorney' ... More >>

Joe Sandoval, city council candidate, when stopped for DUI: "Don't you know who I am?"

Former cop and current state investigator Joe Sandoval is still a candidate for city council in Commerce City, according to the city clerk's office. But if he stays in the race, he'll have some uncomfortable questions to answer about being busted for driving under the influence -- and the way a poli ... More >>

Dennis Dean Sieving, our Shmuck of the Week, is driving us crazy

​Driving in Denver gets more difficult every day. If it's not the construction and repair, then it's the badly synchronized lights or rush-hour traffic. If it's not the sneaky radar vans, then it's the real trouble-makers who weave in and out of lanes at twice the speed of everyone else. So ... More >>

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo: State says Corona Light is heavy enough to serve in bars

Turn that frown upside down!​ If Senate Bill 60 passes out of the House, "on-premises" liquor licensees -- meaning restaurants and bars, and restaurants and bars only -- would be free, free to pour any beer they want to, even the 3.2 beer they're now prevented from serving by the state's arc ... More >>

THC driving limits: William Breathes is still (still!) waiting for blood test results

​Two weeks ago, with Rep Claire Levy's marijuana DUI bill headed for debate in the Senate, I went and got poked with needles in hopes of finding out just how much THC is in my blood when I'm sober. Unfortunately, I still don't have an answer. Two weeks ago, I had $300 worth of tests run by An ... More >>

Douglas Bruce, father of TABOR and controversy magnet, indicted for tax evasion

Big pic below.​Douglas Bruce has made no shortage of enemies over the years -- and plenty of them are likely grinning at the sight of his mug shot, released in conjunction with word that he's been indicted for failing to pay taxes he earned in 2005-2007. His alleged method of evasion? Funnelin ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Does Melinda Haag's memo foreshadow federal MMJ raids in Colorado?

Melinda Haag.​While medical marijuana is legal in Colorado, it remains against U.S. law -- and the push and pull between the state and the feds continues to concern the local MMJ community. Case in point: The Haag memo, a letter sent in February by California-based U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag p ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Rob Corry calls Dept. of Revenue draft regs "death by 1,000 cuts"

Rob Corry.​At 9 a.m., Colorado's Department of Revenue will begin two days of public hearings at the Jefferson County Justice Center, Hearing Room 1, about its draft regulations for the medical marijuana industry. Among those hoping to speak is MMJ attorney Rob Corry -- but he's already fired ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Board of Health rejects Cannabis Therapy Institute's petition (PICS)

​Update: Yesterday, Colorado's board of health rejected an emergency petition from the Cannabis Therapy Institute, on view below in an item first published yesterday morning. The reason? The board didn't believe the concerns outlined in the petition constituted an emergency. However, the topic ... More >>

Medical marijuana database puts patients at risk of federal prosecution, advocate says (VIDEO)

Fern Epstein.​Colorado's Department of Revenue unveiled draft regulations for the medical marijuana industry at a marathon meeting yesterday -- and most concerning for the Cannabis Therapy Institute's Laura Kriho was a plan to phase out the current MMJ registry and replace it with a database s ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Jessica Corry on Carbondale telling centers adding infused products is illegal

​Colorado's Department of Revenue will introduce the final draft of medical marijuana regulations on Monday. But interpretations of HB 1284, the state's main MMJ law, continue to be made on the local level, with Carbondale telling centers that adding infused products to its menu before July is ... More >>

David Zamzow, two others named in 25 racketeering counts: Read the indictment here

David Zamzow.​"If you are looking for a blend of personal service and expertise, you have come to the right place!. I offer a broad range of services for business owners, executives and independent professionals." So reads the welcome message on Fort Collins CPA David Zamzow's website. No men ... More >>

Cannabis Therapy Institute attacks new regs, declares medical marijuana law unconstitutional

Friday's MMJ meeting.​On Friday, the Colorado Department of Revenue's medical marijuana advisory committee met at a session belatedly opened to the public -- and the folks at the Cannabis Therapy Institute were troubled by the draft regulations released in conjunction with the get-together. S ... More >>

Medical marijuana activists want revenue dept. to re-open MMJ committee to public application

Laura Kriho.​Cannabis Therapy Institute's Laura Kriho and Colorado Coalition for Patients and Caregivers' Robert Chase succeeded in getting the Department of Revenue to postpone the first meeting of its new medical marijuana advisory working group because it wasn't open to the public. But they ... More >>

Medical marijuana residency rules: Activist Laura Kriho asks, Where's the emergency?

Laura Kriho.​The first rule-making hearing of the Department of Revenue's Medical Marijuana Licensing Authority, slated for 10 a.m. this morning, has been deemed an emergency. But why it should be categorized as one puzzles the Cannabis Therapy Institute's Laura Kriho, who notes that this term ... More >>

Medical marijuana rules: Top ganjapreneur Jill Lamoureux-Leigh weighs in on what comes next

​Everyone has questions about the new medical marijuana laws. And one of the best people to answer them is Jill Lamoureux-Leigh, one of the most successful and respected people in the MMJ community.

Colorado now taxing candy bars -- unless they contain flour

Looks like candy to us....​As of May 1, soda pop and candy -- "a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or other ingredients or flavoring in the form of bars, drops or pieces," according to the Colorado Department of R ... More >>

Medical marijuana: When it comes to dispensary-owner background checks, it's game on

When is a dispensary like a casino?​The medical marijuana legislation grinding through the Colorado House and Senate continues to fire up debate -- note these recent back-and-forths between Senator Chris Romer and MMJ advocate Rob Corry over the issue of licensing requirements for patients age ... More >>

Underage drinking in Denver: Sweet 16 and never been blitzed

​The Star Bar, at 2137 Larimer Street, still hasn't reopened after it was busted for serving underage drinkers; after getting popped for its fourth underage violation in as many years, the Border, a University of Denver institution at 2014 South University, shut down altogether last fall. (It ... More >>

India House back in the curry business

​Early last week, India House, the curry den at 1514 Blake Street, was seized for non-payment of taxes. But owner Ghugi Singh was able to cough up the $12,739.91 demanded by the state, which he paid in full to the Colorado Department of Revenue. "The business was released back to the owner yes ... More >>

After vegan requests LVTOFU license plate, the DMV reveals its dirty mind

The Recovery Room looks terminal

The Recovery Room, a longtime hole-in-the-wall bar at 819 Colorado Boulevard serving the east Congress Park neighborhood as well as the good doctors, nurses and health-care professionals from nearby hospitals and medical centers, has flatlined. The door is boarded up and a posted Colorado Departmen ... More >>

Barron's gets the boot

National Press Corps Gets DNC Party Preview

Media members planning to cover the Democratic convention have big questions for Howard Dean and his crew. Like, what about the food?

To ID or Not to ID

Identity Crisis

Utah is not to be trusted.

Follow That Story

The Party's Over

Working Out the Kinks

This fetish ball carries a big bill.

Club Scout

Surges

Drunk of the Week

Wynkoop Brewing Co.

Going, Going, Gone

Grabbing a pizza the action in Thornton.

License Revoked

A new bill could call a halt to the state's specialty plates.

Off Limits

Dialing for dolours.

Off Limits

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

THE CITY OF DENVER HAS SUNK MORE THAN $2 MILLION INTO THE HISTORIC ROSSONIAN HOTEL. BUT CHECK OUT ITS ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT PLAN.