Shawn Coleman

Advocate of the Month 

Name: Shawn
Coleman

Occupation:
Lobbyist

When and how did you
become an advocate for cannabis?

I began working on cannabis policy as a legislative
assistant for U.S. Rep. Jared Polis in Washington D.C. I worked on the
Amendment 64 campaign and began my lobbying practice in 2013 representing great
Boulder brands like The Farm, Headquarters and Terrapin Care Station.

How has cannabis
benefited your life?

I became acquainted with cannabis during my college years at
Juilliard. The social association is obvious but we would get together and
consume cannabis, wine and play chamber music. The empathy one gets from
regular cannabis use I believe facilitates the non-verbal communication of a
string quartet. It’s literally a performance-enhancing plant.

What’s your greatest
achievement for the cannabis cause?

It’s an incomplete mission to give the victims of the war on
cannabis an opportunity to benefit from the peace. People with a prior
marijuana felony were banned from owning or working at a cannabis business in
Colorado. We passed an amendment that at least opens the door to employment in
the industry, but we need to keep removing barriers to entry if we want our
industry to reflect society and its principles. I will keep working to bring
employment and ownership opportunities to people of color and low income
communities. This economic opportunity should benefit everyone.

How did that
manifest?

During a whirlwind series of amendments on the last day of
the legislative session in 2013.

Who do you look up to
or admire?

Patient advocates. When you’re a professional policy person,
pragmatism can trump reason. I’m always glad to see patient advocates at
hearings because then I know I will have a compass. 

If you could change
one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would
it be?

It’s not a drug. Companion plant, supplement, nutrient, call
it what you like, but it is not a drug. Can you use it like a drug? Sure, but
cannabis is a plant that happens to contain high concentrations of beneficial
compounds. I believe regular, beneficial use of cannabis is simply good health
maintenance. It’s a lot more fun than broccoli, and enough of it can even make
broccoli delicious!