Aleta Labak

Aleta Labak

This Colorado native joined The Cannabist in January 2014 as a digital producer, after working behind the scenes for The Denver Post since 1999 in News, Features and Sports as a copy editor and designer. These are fascinating times, friends.

Recent posts by Aleta Labak

66 Congress members make plea to extend protection for medical marijuana states

The letter, signed by 66 members of Congress, called for extending the “Rohrabacher-Blumenauer” provision that protects medical marijuana states from the DOJ.

How will the new rules released for the Colorado marijuana industry affect consumers?

Changes to the rules governing Colorado’s cannabis industry go into effect Jan. 1, including a groundbreaking path for in-state cannabis research.

Complete Colorado election results for 2017 cannabis issues

Get the unofficial 2017 Colorado election results for cities voting on allowing marijuana sales and the 14 municipalities that decided tax measures.

“You idiot!”: Cursing councilman goes on tirade against marijuana advocates

Colfax Mayor pro tem Tony Hesch cursed out a resident during a City Council meeting for interrupting him during a debate on keeping some marijuana policies under local control.

Op-ed: Maine gov shouldn’t interfere with legislators’ solid work on new marijuana laws

Maine’s path to establishing laws for the sale of recreational marijuana became a lot more clouded with the announcement last week of a competing measure from Gov. Paul LePage and Ken Fredette, the House Republican leader.

UPDATE: Colorado regulators extend deadline for public input on changes to marijuana regs

Colorado marijuana regulations are a-changing, and you have a chance to weigh in. There are a number of additions regarding Colorado cannabis research, including clinical applications and study of pesticide use.

Remembering the stony side of Tom Petty: His biggest weed hits

Tom Petty didn’t tiptoe around toking. As the music world mourns his passing, here’s a look at his famous weed songs, including “You Don’t Know How it Feels.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch pushes to ease marijuana research barriers with MEDS Act

There’s a bipartisan effort underway in the Senate for easing the path to marijuana research as Sen. Orrin Hatch introduces the Marijuana Effective Drug Study Act of 2017, or MEDS Act.

GOP-led House Rules Committee blocks voting on bipartisan marijuana amendments

The House Rules Committee rejected a number of marijuana-related amendments from a federal appropriations bill, most notably Rohrabacher-Blumenauer.

The Sessions Letters: Read the U.S. attorney general’s missives to the first four states to legalize marijuana

In April, the governors of the first four states to legalize recreational marijuana asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to “engage with us before embarking on any changes to regulatory and enforcement systems.” Sessions responded at the end of July with four letters addressed to the governors of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and…

The feds seized guns, gold and 320 pot plants. So why did a judge rule they can’t pursue marijuana charges?

In a ruling believed to be the first of its kind, a judge last week put a stop to a federal medical marijuana case before the men were sentenced to prison in light of a congressional amendment budget rider that prohibits DOJ from using funds to prosecute cases in which no state medical marijuana laws were broken.

Colorado Springs head shops accused of illegal marijuana sales; 13 indicted

The two Hoppz Cropz storefronts in Colorado Springs allegedly distributed nearly 200 pounds of marijuana via “free giveaways” of weed with other purchases and evaded taxes, officials say.

Drive to get veterans access to medical marijuana hinges on House committee vote

A measure allowing veterans easier access to medical marijuana garnered bipartisan support in Congress last year and nearly became law. A vote Monday could be the end of the line this year in another attempt to pass it.

As Trump admin wages war on legal marijuana, veterans side with weed

The Trump administration’s attack on legal marijuana is increasingly confronting a politically potent adversary: military veterans

Hello, what’s this? Big bags of weed found by freeway litter cleanup crew

Fifteen pounds of marijuana were found in plastic bags on the side of a freeway in La Crescenta during a litter cleanup this weekend, authorities said. Two organizations were doing their monthly sweep along the 210 Freeway at La Crescenta Avenue on Saturday when City Councilman Mike Classens came across…

Nevada racks up $3 million in marijuana sales during early days of rollout

The first four days of legal recreational marijuana sales generated $3 million in sales revenue and about $500,000 in tax revenue, putting Nevada on pace to achieve an estimated $30 million in sales revenue over the next six months of recreational sales, according to the Nevada Dispensary Association.

DEA seeks dismissal of hemp industry lawsuit fighting drug code for “marihuana extracts”

The legal distinctions between marijuana and hemp are at the center of a debate in a federal lawsuit. The Drug Enforcement Administration stands firm on its drug code for “marihuana extracts” in a brief filed Friday to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and seeks to have a federal…

Four governors team up, urge feds to keep marijuana enforcement status quo

In an open letter sent Monday, the governors ask Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to “engage with us before embarking on any changes to regulatory and enforcement systems.”

Weed delivered to your front door could be reality under new Colorado bill

A bill introduced this week in the Colorado Senate, SB 192, would open the door for home-delivered recreational and medical marijuana in the state.

Colorado sets record with $117M in weed sales for April

Colorado’s monthly cannabis sales have reached a new apex in the legal era with a record-setting $117.4 million worth of flower, edibles and concentrates sold in April 2016. Colorado has now exceeded $100 million in monthly marijuana sales three times. FULL REPORT

How to make pot brownies the easy way: a beginner’s guide to edibles

How to make pot brownies: If you’re not a whiz in the kitchen, that’s OK. You don’t need a fancy marijuana brownie recipe, just cannabutter. Here’s how to make special brownies.

GOP debate: Legal weed issues dodged in Colorado

The GOP debate hosted by CNBC on Wednesday in Boulder had been expected to dig into candidates’ views on marijuana, yet the topic barely got covered.

Where to buy weed in Oregon recreational marijuana shops

Oregon recreational marijuana: The state Health Authority has released a list of medical marijuana dispensaries that can sell to all adults starting Oct. 1.

Snoop Dogg rolls out a weed-friendly lifestyle website: Merry Jane

Snoop Dogg has a new weed-centric business venture: the Merry Jane media platform, which will cover the cannabis lifestyle and marijuana news.

Snoop Dogg rolls out a weed-friendly lifestyle website: Merry Jane

Snoop Dogg’s latest weed-centric business venture may sound familiar to those who visit The Cannabist. The rap mogul is teaming up with entrepreneur Ted Chung to launch the Merry Jane media platform, which will feature original videos and “a cross-section of cultural and lifestyle features, along with the latest cannabis policy,…

See the two pot ads a Denver TV station didn’t air over legal worries

Now’s your chance to see the marijuana ads that a Denver TV station had been set to air before putting that plan on hiatus.

One night only: See director’s cut of ‘Friday’ on its 20th anniversary

The classic comedy “Friday” will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a return to the big screen next month. See the director’s cut Monday, April 20 at select theaters nationwide.

Attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch against legalizing marijuana

U.S. attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch answered a barrage of questions Wednesday during her Senate confirmation hearing in Washington. Here’s what she said about federal marijuana policy.

Gov. Hickenlooper makes pot banking priority in State of the State speech

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper gave his State of the State speech on Thursday at the Capitol, and he focused on banking access for the marijuana industry, which has been hampered by federal hang-ups over how the businesses handle their finances.

Best of 2014: Here are 25 incredible true stories from Colorado & beyond

2014 was a year of fascinating marijuana developments: Innovative pot products hit the market, the global pot view is changing and unusual true stories abounded.

Best of 2014: The 15 most intriguing questions our readers asked this year

Here are 15 of the most intriguing questions readers had for Ask The Cannabist columnist Susan Squibb in the first year of recreational marijuana sales in Colorado. Queries ran the gamut from what’s now legal (and what’s still illegal) to the products for sale in pot shops to quests for 1970s strains and cooking with weed.

Jane’s Addiction in Denver: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the brownie kicked in’

When Jane’s Addiction hit Denver’s Ogden Theatre for a show on Nov. 19, lead singer Perry Farrell was rather chatty. Maybe it was the pot brownie.

Coast-to-coast police warnings about pot candy getting ridiculous

What’s going on here? Numerous media outlets ran a report Oct. 31 about marijuana edibles seized in Prince George, Maryland, that had originated from Colorado, along with local police issuing warnings to area parents to be on the lookout for THC-laced treats.

Video: Tommy Chong cha-chas and ABC plays up the pot angle on “DWTS”

Tommy Chong made his “Dancing With the Stars” debut on Monday night in the premiere of the 19th season of ABC’s popular prime-time staple. The network certainly didn’t shy away from the stoney history of the comedian/actor/director (and Pueblo dispensary endorser).

Video: What happens in a roadside stoned driving test?

ABC News correspondent Clayton Sandell shadowed a Colorado State Patrol officer and was on hand to record what happened when one sandal-wearing, Mustang-driving motorist was put through the paces by CSP Cpl. Roger Meyers, a specially trained drug recognition expert.