It seems like it’s all about pot in CO. Used to be a conservative state until California unloaded many. And now it seems the reefer contingent dominates, although I am not from CO.
Yes, I have a best friend who’s lived there 20 years and seen it go downhill firsthand. Lives near Boulder and works in Denver. It’s a stoner, homeless magnet.
Decline has nothing or little to do with legalized pot though the politicians love them the pot money. Decline has to do with too much inflow of liberals from other states (primarily CA but seeing more NY in the last decade), cost of housing is now through the roof and a republican party that is feckless and would rather serve as the socialist lite to their masters
I lived in Denver 79-81, it was a great place then.