B J Brohl Strategies
Drug Policy Strategies for the 21st Century
Where Drug Policy Reform and Effective Regulation Intersect
Barbara Brohl
Barbara Brohl is currently a Principal at B J Brohl Strategies, where she consults on drug policy strategies for the 21st century. She believes that successful reform can occur when drug policy and effective regulation intersect.
Prior to this, Barb led the varied functions of the Colorado Department of Revenue. Appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper to his Cabinet in 2011, she was responsible for Colorado’s Tax Division, the Division of Motor Vehicles, Lottery, and Enforcement for Gaming, Liquor and Tobacco, Racing, and Marijuana. Barb led a team of approximately 1,500 employees, collected between $11 - $13 billion in fees and taxes for the State annually, regulates more than 14,000 liquor-licensed businesses, issued more than 1.85 million titles and over 1 million driver licenses, and through the Lottery contributed almost $3 billion to Colorado’s economy.
Before joining state government, Barb practiced telecommunications law with Qwest Communications, representing the company in multi-million dollar commercial transactions and addressing all legal and regulatory matters for a 23-state region. She was also an elected member of the Regional Transportation District Board of Directors where she set policy, advocated for transit at the federal and state levels and introduced a workforce development program.
Barb was appointed by the Governor to co-chair the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force, set up by Executive Order after Colorado voters approved the constitutional amendment that allows for the sale and consumption of marijuana by persons age 21 and older. The amendment required regulation of marijuana growth, manufacture and sale. The Task Force was charged with forwarding recommendations to the governor, general assembly and attorney general regarding how the state should move forward with Amendment 64. In addition, Barb helped to develop legislation and rules around regulatory and enforcement matters for this industry. Responsible for implementing the first-in-the-world regulatory program for legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use, Barb is seen as an expert in Marijuana Regulation. She has consulted with governments on both national and international levels to present “The Colorado Model”.
Barb has received several professional, leadership and community service awards. Among them, the 2008 Colorado Hispanic Bar Association‘s Christopher A. Miranda “Outstanding Hispanic Lawyer” award; 2009 Qwest Outstanding Service Award for Diversity, 2011 Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Athena Award “Limitless” Finalist; the 2011 Boy Scouts of America Vale La Pena Service Award for “Unselfish service to Hispanic American young people”, the 2013 Colorado Women of Distinction Award from the West Metro Chamber of Commerce, the 2015 Trailblazer Award from the Latinas First Foundation, the 2015 Denver Business Journal Outstanding Women in Business Award – Banking, Finance, and Accounting, the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Center for Legal Inclusiveness, and the 2017 State Executive of the Year Award from the National Association of State CIOs.
Born and raised in Colorado, Barb has a bachelor’s degree from Regis University of Colorado and a juris doctorate from University of Denver College of Law. She was a judicial law clerk for Colorado Supreme Court Justices Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr. and William H. Erickson.