#weCUregents
The Truth and Wanda James
The Board of Regents is meeting on April 10, 2025 and has requested an investigation into Regent Wanda James for possible censure or worse
after she was accused of breaking Regent policies.
Now is the time to contact the Regents and let them know what you think of their actions toward Regent Wanda James. Consider signing Black and Gold Project Foundations' letter here:
You can also email the Regents directly at:
callie.rennison@cu.edu, kennethmontera@cu.edu, nolbert.chavez@cu.edu, elliott.hood@cu.edu, wanda.james@cu.edu, frank.mcnulty@cu.edu, ray.scott@cu.edu, ilana.dubin-spiegel@cu.edu, mark.vandriel@cu.edu, cuboardofregents@cu.edu
If you would like to sign up to give public comment on the day of the
April 10 Regent meeting, send an email to CUBoardofRegents@cu.edu with the subject line "April 10 public comment." Include your full name, your organization
(or a description of who you are), and the topic "Regent Wanda James" in your email. Be sure to send in your request no later than April 7, 2025.
NOTE: If you are unable to join the meeting in person, you may submit written comments, usingthe subject line "April 10 written public comment."
Main Timeline
Regent Wanda James is being accused of influencing the Governor and his administration's decisions regarding "The Tea on THC" public education program. The timeline below proves "the wheels were in motion" regarding the fate of The Tea on THC program’s funding well ahead of the program’s marketing materials even being released, and that the reasoning coming from Governor Jared Polis’ office is due to Colorado's decline of marijuana tax revenue. The idea that Regent Wanda James violated any Regent policies seemingly stems from an opinion column in the Denver Gazette, soon followed by a smear campaign website that was sent to the Regents. To view the media coverage that happened separately but during the same time frame as the budget process, review the Secondary Timeline.
March 19, 2025
Proposed elimination of "Regulating Marijuana Concentrates from the CU School of Public Health" is reported as declined.
Colorado Joint Budget Committee (JBC) releases “Marijuana Tax Cash Fund [MTCF] Update,” showing the Office of State Planning and Budgeting proposed "targeted cuts to programs which have the least alignment with the MTCF, most flexibility, or are least aligned with this administration’s policy goals."
(Text is highlighted on pages 7 and 10 of download)
March 18, 2025
Regents announce a request for investigation into Regent Wanda James.
A joint statement released by Regent Chair Callie Rennison and Regent Vice Chair Ken Montera states they requested “an independent review of Regent Wanda James’ recent efforts to eliminate certain state funding for the Colorado School of Public Health.” Later in the statement they say the investigation is “to determine if any regent laws or policies were broken.”
March 17, 2025
Joint Budget Committee declines proposal of "Eliminating the Regulating Marijuana Concentrates from the CU School of Public Health."
Evidence of decision is provided in March 20, 2025 document in timeline above. When an online source has been identified of this decision made on March 17, 2025, it will be updated here.
March 12, 2025
Joint Budget Committee staff recommends Governor Polis' request for funds reduction be approved "given the overall shortage of MTCF [Marijuana Tax Cash Fund] revenue." (pp.88-89)
Joint Budget Committee Staff Department of Higher Education Figure Setting FY 2025-26 Report provides the history of original allocated funding in 2021 , an increase in funding in 2023, and this recent 2024 request to decrease funding.
(Text is highlighted on pages 92-93 of download)
January 31, 2025
Update to Governor's budget proposal sent to Joint Budget Committee with proposal to fully eliminate funds for the public education program.
Governor Polis administrator Mark Ferrandino, Director the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, submits letter to chair of Joint Budget Committee, including a statement of "With significant previous funding being allocated to this program, as well as the challenging balancing outlook for the MTCF, this budget update proposes to fully eliminate the MTCF appropriation for this program in FY 2025-26 (pp.6-7)."
(Text is highlighted on pages 6-7 of download)
November 12, 2024
Request by Governor Polis on November 1, 2024 to reduce funding for HB21-1317 funding is presented in briefing. Appendix C (line item, p.30)
"Marijuana tax revenue has fallen by over 40 percent since the peak in FY 2021-22." (p.20)
"Looking forward to the future, staff notes that existing appropriations and statutory transfers from the MTCF [Marijuana Tax Cash Fund] are not sustainable under either the OSPB [Office of State Planning and Budgeting] or LCS [Legislative Council Staff] forecast." (p.22-23)
Jon Catlett, Joint Budget Committee staff, submits Staff Budget Briefing FY 2025-26 Marijuana Policy Overview based on the Office of State Planning and Budgeting's September 2024 projections.
(Text is highlighted on pages 10-11, 21, 23, and 31 of download)