In this opening episode of Cannabis Tech Coast to Coast, we’re starting right in our own backyard in Cripple Creek, Colorado – where HIgh Stakes Leafery just placed on a cannabis.
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Most people think that cannabis dispensaries in Colorado are like liquor stores in Wisconsin – one on every corner. But truth be told, legal cannabis isn’t much different than post-prohibition alcohol.
Just as there are wet and dry counties with alcohol sales, here in Colorado there are “green counties” – which allow cannabis businesses, and “gray counties” where you can still exercise your right to consume cannabis, but there are no businesses there.
Until earlier this month, Teller County residents had to drive more than an hour to get to the nearest medical cannabis dispensary. But the shift began with voters in 2022.
Ballot Initiatives Hold Huge Power in Small Towns
Since recreational legalization in 2012, Teller County implemented a moratorium on cannabis licenses and only allowed one medical dispensary. Sadly, the store was shut down in 2018, forcing residents to have to make the drive to Colorado Springs.
A petition started by residents put cannabis back on the ballot in Cripple Creek in 2022. But, it didn’t come without controversy. The surrounding conservative communities, including county law enforcement, publicly spoke out against the initiative.
Despite their efforts, the voters were heard and residents voted to lift the moratorium. On January 8th this year, Laura and Robert Smith, long-time Cripple Creek residents, and business owners, opened High Stakes Leafery in the little casino town southwest of Pikes Peak.
Why Small Towns Need Cannabis
Although cannabis legalization has come a long way, most people do not truly understand cannabis. Small towns and conservative communities are especially out of touch.
When done right, a small-town dispensary can bridge stereotypes and stigmas with education and integrity. But just as Laura mentioned during our interview, it has to be done with class and love.
Transitioning a former day spa into a dispensary certainly provides the aesthetic for a quaint, boutique atmosphere. The High Stakes Leafery feels warm, open, and inviting – the perfect environment to welcome everyone from curious onlookers to legacy smokers.
High Stakes Leafery Is not Just About Appearances
A town of just 1200 people, Cripple Creek is dependent on tourism and tax revenue to survive. The town has more than 600 hotel rooms, 11 casinos, dozens of restaurants and shops… and now, one dispensary.
The casinos no longer have to tell their patrons that they need to drive an hour away and “hope they come back,” Laura explains in the video.
The city also greatly anticipates the tax revenue to help fuel future city projects and initiatives.
But for medical patients, the opening of High Stakes Leafery means so much more. I speak from experience when I say, the drive to Colorado Springs is long, expensive, and can be plagued with dangerous driving conditions. The pass coming up the mountain from Colorado Springs has its own weather system.
High Stakes Leafery provides Teller County’s medical cannabis patients with the hometown convenience they’ve been missing for over a decade.
Cripple Creek’s Small-Town Allure for Tourists
Cripple Creek really does provide a wide range of experiences. Whether you’re looking for all the creature features of an upscale, Vegas-style resort, like the Chamonix, or you’re looking to spend the day outside at the Mountain View Adventure Park & Disc Golf Course – you can find something to do in Cripple Creek.
Filled with the mysterious history you’d expect in an Old West mining town, Cripple Creek boasts some of the most haunted places in the nation, too. Take some time to explore the historic jail museum and read about the town’s rich history in gold mining. Take a trip 1,000 feet straight down in the Molly Kathleen Mine, where you can witness the history of gold mining firsthand.
Come in February for the town’s Annual Ice Festival, or in August for Donkey Derby Days, a town tradition for 93 years! Just remember – yes, cannabis is legal in Cripple Creek – but pretend that it isn’t. You cannot smoke or vape in public – and you certainly can’t smoke in your hotel room.
