The alcohol industry is a titan; one of which that holds a lot of sway and puts an enormous amount of money into government lobbying. It has made the industry a real threat to emerging cannabis legalisation, with both industries being in a deadlock of debate. However, this is not the case in Colorado, where cannabis is legal. The alcohol industry there appears to be embracing marijuana, as alcohol sales skyrocket.

Despite worries throughout the alcohol industry, it would appear that cannabis legalisation boosts alcohol sales – whether this is a good thing we will leave up to you. According to Bryan Simpson, a spokesman for Fort Collins craft brewery in Colorado, those within the industry who believe that cannabis is a threat are wrong. In fact, Simpson goes as far as to say that cannabis has benefited the brewery, and that the two industries are forming a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial to both.

It is a trend that can be seen across Colorado, with tax figures showing consistent upward growth for both industries. There are still fears amongst the alcohol crowd that cannabis legalisation will negatively impact their sales, but now the assumption is being questioned. Could this be a sign that the alcohol industry is going to get out of the way of legalisation? Irrespective of views on alcohol, the intense lobbying by the alcohol industries has been one of the major factors in the fight against legalisation, with many within the industry funding negative research and anti-cannabis campaign groups. It is time for them to step aside, and embrace the change.