Multiple Colorado Springs medical marijuana dispensary locations shut down for unpaid taxes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The state has shut down three Colorado Springs medical marijuana dispensaries. According to a warrant for distraint notices on the front door of one of the businesses, the owners owe thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes.

Thursday, 13 Investigates learned that Tweedleaf was shut down by the Marijuana Enforcement Divison (MED). All seven Tweedleaf locations in Colorado were shut down.

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, an investigation is ongoing. However, the state says 18 business licenses under the umbrella of “TweedLeaf” have been closed. The closures are a part of a coordinated investigation with the Colorado Department of Revenue's Taxation Division.

The warrant for distraint says AJC Industries, the limited liability company for Tweedleaf, has more than $82,000 in unpaid, delinquent taxes. The warrant says they were given 12 separate notices since October 2021.

13 Investigates reached out to the owner of Tweedleaf, John Kaweske by phone and visited an address listed on the El Paso County Assessor's website listed to him. We were not able to reach him.

Tweedleaf has three Colorado Springs locations. There are eighteen business licenses under TweedLeaf in Colorado. All operate multiple cultivation and processing sites as well.

One former employee told 13 Investigates that dozens of employees have been laid off.

Truman Bradly, Executive Director of the Marijuana Industry Group, issued this statement to 13 Investigates regarding the closures:

"Tweedleaf had some specific issues related to taxes, but what they share with other cannabis small business owners across the state is that they are feeling the effects of a brutal and draconian federal tax structure and a serious downturn in the market.  They are one of a number of small businesses that have been driven out of business by increasing taxes and regulations. This is combined with customers and patients that are feeling the effects of high inflation."