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leveling off. “We have many people com-
ing through the state who buy cannabis “THE NUMBER OF RECREATIONAL AND MEDICINAL
here because they cannot do so in their
home state. As more states legalize it, CANNABIS DISPENSARIES IN DENVER EXCEEDS THE
those sales will drop eventually,” he said. NUMBER OF STARBUCKS, MCDONALDS, BURGER
Colorado is the nearest state to KINGS, AND TACO BELLS COMBINED.”
Arkansas to have legalized both medi-
cal cannabis and recreational cannabis,
and it did so to great fanfare. To explain —GREG FULTON, PRESIDENT OF THE COLORADO MOTOR
the magnitude of the effect on the state, CARRIERS ASSOCIATION
Fulton says, “The number of recreational
and medicinal cannabis dispensaries in
Denver exceeds the number of Starbucks, has done to exacerbate the driver short- in one’s system much longer than alco-
McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Taco Bells age. While Colorado may have legalized hol and that a positive test may result in
combined.” The medical marijuana dis- medical and recreational cannabis, termination, many still haven’t grasped
pensaries can be identified by their green professional drivers are still expected to it,” he says.
cross, though Fulton says there is little be drug free. Despite the clear expecta- Policy in a safety-sensitive indus-
effective difference between them and tion, Fulton pointed to one company try like trucking is based on a study
recreational dispensaries. in Colorado where 70 percent of dock of federal law and national safety sta-
As a result of the changed state workers applying for work tested posi- tistics. Despite record public support,
law, Colorado is facing some specific tive for cannabis use. “The legalization legislation across multiple states, and
and unexpected challenges. Warehouse of cannabis appears to have given many the potential for future federal change,
space has become more expensive, pric- people the sense that its use is more until cannabis is rescheduled and a
ing some long-term tenants out of their acceptable and even allowable. Despite roadside test can be developed that
storage and terminal space. Perhaps the ongoing push to make workers stands up to litigation, cannabis use
more worrisome is what the legalization aware of the fact that cannabis remains will likely remain prohibited. ATR

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 6 2018 27