Losing Cannabis Cup a Mixed Bag, Say CO Businesses

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Colorado marijuana business owners hoping for a boost from the High Times U.S. Cannabis Cup that was originally slated to be held in the state next month are in for a disappointment.

The magazine has dropped its bid to hold the event in Pueblo, a city roughly two hours south of Denver, after being denied a permit in February for the same venue where the gathering has been held for the previous two years, the Denver Post reported.

Instead, the Cannabis Cup will be held in San Bernadino, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, according to the Post.

Several Colorado business owners said they were disappointed because that means an almost certain drop in tourism dollars related to the event, which typically draws tens of thousands of participants.

“It will be a huge hit to the industry,” one edibles maker told Marijuana Business Daily via email.

A dispensary and rec shop chain owner emailed, “Having the Cup event, on top of 420, has traditionally made the state almost a Mecca event, bringing people together from all over the world. It feels a bit empty, knowing that the Cannabis Cup will not be in our state this year!!!”

However, there is an upside to the news, said another cannabis businessman.

“It could even help the marijuana industry in Colorado overall by not having the negative press that the Cannabis Cup usually brings every year (trashing venues, guests passing out from dabs, allegations of corrupt voting process, etc.),” a professional grower wrote in an email. “I don’t think that will be a huge impact that business owners will notice on their bottom line.”