[Source:
The Denver Post]
Denver City Council Monday night passed a historic bill that sets the
rules and regulations for the retail marijuana industry in the state's largest city.
Most
other big municipalities around Colorado have taken a time-out from
setting their own regulations with many opting out to see how Denver's
system will work. Denver also was the first to take on medical
marijuana regulations.
"The whole world is watching, not just the
country," said Councilman Charlie Brown, who led the council committee
on the issue. "There will be some changes. It is a work in progress. We
did what we could, but this is a huge unknown."
Two changes were put into the new law:
• Any medical marijuana facility that has not applied for a city license by Oct. 1 will be shut down.
•
Distances now will be measured as the crow flies, not in terms of
distance a pedestrian can walk after an amendment by Councilman Paul
Lopez that was approved. Going forward, no new dispensary or retail
shop can be within 1,000 feet of a school, child care center, drug and
alcohol treatment center or another marijuana facility as the crow
flies.
Here are some key elements to the new law:
• Through Jan. 2016, only licensed medical marijuana businesses in good standing will be licensed to sell retail marijuana.
• Retail marijuana stores can share the same location with a medical marijuana centers.
•
Public hearings will be required before licenses are granted to retail
facilities. But the hearings will be less restrictive than liquor
licences.
• Similar buffering to the medical marijuana laws will
be in effect with no dispensaries allowed within 1,000 feet of a
school, child care center, another marijuana facility and drug and
alcohol treatment facilities.
Ge the complete story:
Historic retail marijuana rules and regulations passed by Denver Council
