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U. Colorado Regent-vs.-Regents Lawsuit, Cannabis, Race, and Legislative Immunity

Eugene Volokh | 11.9.2026 8:32 AM

From James v. Rennison, decided Friday by Judge Philip Brimmer (D. Colo.), plaintiff's allegations:

Regent Wanda James is an elected member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents …. Regent James is the second Black woman to be elected to the Board and is the only Black regent currently on the Board. Regent James is also a prominent Black cannabis owner and was the first Black owner of a cannabis dispensary in the United States. Regent James has used her position on the Board to advocate for communities of color.

In late 2024 and early 2025, the Colorado School of Public Health ("CSPH") developed a public health campaign called Tea on THC. The Tea on THC campaign included use of the following image:

Regent James used her position as a regent and as a private citizen to criticize the Tea on THC campaign, asserting that it invoked racist stereotypes. After Regent James criticized the Tea on THC campaign, the CSPH issued a public statement stating that it regretted any distress caused by the imagery used in the campaign and that it acknowledged its responsibility to reflect cultural awareness and sensitivity. In addition to criticizing the Tea on THC campaign, Regent James spoke publicly........

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