07-23-2019, 12:49 AM
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. - Business is booming in Colorados mountain resorts, and the addition of recreational marijuana stores this year has attracted customers curious about legalized pot. But theres mounting anxiety that ski towns have embraced stoner culture a little too much, potentially damaging the states tourism brand.That worry flared up in two resort towns last week. In Breckenridge, residents voted overwhelmingly to force downtowns lone dispensary off Main Street to a less-visible location. And just up the road in Granby, town officials used a property annex to prevent a dispensary from opening.The fear is that some families — a mainstay of the ski tourism industry — will stop vacationing here.Its not a morality issue, or that we think marijuana is bad, said Breckenridge councilman Gary Gallagher, who supported legal marijuana but also voted to force the Breckenridge Cannabis Club out of downtown. Marijuana, it is not in this countrys DNA yet. Its a little bit too early.So far, theres no indication that legal pot has damaged tourism, Colorados No. 2 industry. The state notched a record $17.3 billion in tourism spending the year after legalization, with a record 64.6 million visitors, and state tourism officials say 2014 is poised to top last years record.But its an open question whether pot has anything to do with it. Officials cite the improving economy and the weather, with healthy snow totals historically being the most significant driver for mountain visits.The state and its marijuana industry are barred by law from advertising weed out of state, and the head of the Colorado Tourism Office says the state isnt tracking the role of marijuana in tourist behaviour.Its all anecdotal, Al White said. I have heard from some angry parents who said theyll never come back to Colorado because of marijuana. And Ive also heard from people who say they came to Colorado just to see the marijuana.At the end of the day, it may be having a modest effect, but its not huge either way.The recent friction isnt the first time officials have moved to lower marijuanas profile.The nations largest ski operator, Vail Resorts, made headlines over the last year tearing down makeshift shelters built illicitly in hard-to-reach areas and used by stoners to get safe, mountain slang for toking up out of the cold and away from ski patrollers. Resorts across the state are dotted with the so-called smoke shacks, and some of them are decades old.We will continue to communicate that consumption of marijuana is illegal in public and on federal land, Vail Resorts Russ Pecoraro said in a statement about destroying the shacks in its four areas, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail.Still, at rates greater than their urban neighbours, mountain communities backed marijuana legalization in 2012, including Breckenridge, an early and enthusiastic support base, and theres no doubt that recreational pot has had an effect on ski towns.A state-produced July report on the new marijuana industry concluded that 90 per cent of recreational sales in mountain resort communities go to out-of-state visitors.The influx of shoppers — and camera crews that have become frequent sights as they work on pot-themed news stories and documentaries — has prompted a lively debate among residents about how pot is changing their resorts.Whether youre pro-marijuana or against marijuana, you have to be concerned about how tourists react to seeing it, said Bob Gordman, a Breckenridge retiree who voted to move the dispensary.Others say the marijuana novelty will die down naturally and that resort towns shouldnt worry about dispensaries or the souvenir shops that put Rocky Mountain High puns on T-shirts.In five or 10 years, itll be no big issue, said Bill Kiser, a Breckenridge retiree who voted to keep the dispensary on Main Street.Why dont families get turned off when they go on vacation and see a bar and people drinking alcohol? 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Jordan Papirny made 17 saves for the Wheat Kings while Alex Moodie stopped 44-of-50 shots in defeat. --- HITMEN 3 BRONCOS 2 (SO) CALGARY -- Radel Fazleev scored the winner as the Hitmen halted Swift Currents nine-game win streak. Chris Driedger made 37 saves for Calgary (11-6-4), which snapped its four-game slide, while Kenton Helgesen and Greg Chase scored in regulation. The Broncos (15-8-2) got goals from Jay Merkley and Graham Black. Landon Bow stopped 35 shots for Swift Current. --- REBELS 4 WARRIORS 2 RED DEER, Alta. -- Matt Bellerives goal 6:38 into the second period stood up as the winner as the Rebels doubled up Moose Jaw. Haydn Fleurry, Dominik Volek and Meyer Nell also scored for Red Deer (10-11-1) while Wyatt Johnson tacked on two assists.dddddddddddd Brayden Point and Alexey Sleptsov scored for the Warriors (7-15-4). Patrik Bartosak made 17 saves for the Rebels. Zachary Sawchenko stopped 27 shots for Moose Jaw. --- AMERICANS 5 PATS 3 KENNEWICK, Wash. -- Brian Williams scored twice and Tri-City jumped out to a four-goal lead en route to defeating Regina. Lucas Nickels and Marcus Messier had a goal and an assist apeice for the Americans (13-9-2) while Philip Tot scored once. The Pats (12-10-0) were led offensively by Braden Christoffer, Boston Leier and Adam Brooks. Eric Comrie made 28 saves for Tri-City while Nick Schneider stopped 23 shots for Regina. --- ROYALS 2 THUNDERBIRDS 1 (OT) VICTORIA -- Logan Nelson scored 52 seconds into extra time as the Royals dealt Seattle its sixth loss in a row. Brandon Magee scored in the second period for Victoria (13-9-1) and earned the games first star. Brandon Troock scored the lone goal for the Thunderbirds (11-8-3). 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