World's Largest Comic Book Distributor Cashing In On Colorado Pot Business

DENVER (CBS4) - A local entrepreneur says he's in the right place at the right time to capitalize on Colorado's booming marijuana business.

From Spiderman to Superman, Chuck Rozanski has turned his love of comic books into the largest comic book distributor in the world.

"I started when I was 14. Forty-six years later I'm still crazy about what I do. We sell as many comics in Australia as we do in Denver," he said.

Rozanski started Mile High Comics 47 year ago in Denver, now three stores, and 10 million comics strong. He coined the name as a salute to his favorite drug at the time.

"I smoked a lot of pot when I was in college. I gave it up when I became a dad," Rozanski told CBS4's Tom Mustin.

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Now marijuana has turned Rozanski from young entrepreneur to Richie Rich. The high demand for marijuana grow space in Denver convinced Rozanski to sell his 22,000 square foot warehouse on 56th Avenue.

"After my selling costs we will net almost a million dollars. That will pay off almost all of our bank debt and free us up to go out and buy more collections," he said.

Steve Serenyi with Colliers International says the marijuana business kept downtown alive during the recession. Now marijuana accessory companies like soil, fertilizer and electrical businesses are vying for Denver warehouse space as well.

"It's helping drive some of the cranes and apartments and condo construction we've seen around town," said Serenyi.

Rozanski says he now has to move six million comics, and shelves -- about 375 tons -- to his other facility on Jason Street by March 31. That warehouse holds a whopping 60,000 square feet.

When it comes to success, Rozanski says pot has taken his business a mile high.

"You have to get some breaks. If you never get a break, you never succeed."

"And your break was marijuana?" asked Mustin.

"In this particular case, the changing of the law certainly made a difference," Rozanski replied.

Mile High Comics has three Denver locations. Find more information at milehighcomics.com.

Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomCBS4.