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Wheat Ridge could become the largest city in Jefferson County to allow recreational marijuana businesses.
The Wheat Ridge City Council will vote Oct. 14 on regulations guiding the establishment of retail pot stores, grow operations, product manufacturing and testing facilities.
Amendment 64-related businesses cannot open statewide until Jan. 1. The state Department of Revenue was to begin accepting license applications Oct. 1.
Ken Johnstone, the city's community development director, said with retail marijuana, Wheat Ridge is taking a nearly identical approach as it did with medical marijuana.
"We're not trying to break any ground here," Johnstone said. "We're trying to follow past precedence in terms of medical marijuana and just align ourselves with the state."
Under the proposed regulations, retail marijuana businesses would be allowed only in two zoning districts, light commercial and industrial.
New businesses must also be at least 1,000 feet from any school, alcohol or drug treatment facility, college or residential child-care facility. They are also prohibited from being within three-quarters of a mile of any other medical or retail marijuana business.
That would leave few available sites within Wheat Ridge, although co-location of medical and retail businesses would be allowed, Johnstone said. The spacing and zoning requirements are the same for medical and retail marijuana.
If approved, the regulations would make Wheat Ridge a forerunner in Jefferson County.
So far, Edgewater is the only other city to allow Amendment 64-related businesses, the city council there approving rules Sept. 19.
Arvada, Golden and unincorporated Jefferson County are all under moratoriums, through March 2014, July 2014 and February 2015, respectively.
Westminster has already banned retail pot businesses outright, something the city council did in January.
Lakewood also has a moratorium in place through Jan. 1, although city officials are considering adding another year to the ban. If approved, the county's biggest city would not accept applications for recreational marijuana businesses through Jan. 1, 2015.
On first reading Sept. 9, the Wheat Ridge City Council split 5-2 in favor of allowing the new businesses. A final vote was scheduled for Sept. 23, but the council pushed it back to Oct. 14 so the full body could be in attendance.
District 4 Councilwoman Tracy Langworthy voted against the ordinance Sept. 9 and said in her mind, allowing retail businesses will only increase the access children have to marijuana.
"We need to look out for our children," Langworthy said. "It's a revenue source, I get it, and we need revenue, but this isn't the best way."
District 1 Councilman Bud Starker voted with the majority on first reading and said while he hasn't made his mind up on the final vote, the people of Colorado did approve Amendment 64.
"I think the (city) legislation that was introduced seems to balance the two interests – the will of the people and safeguarding the public," Starker said. "It's a good beginning point to have a discussion."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: denverpost.com
Author: Emilie Rusch
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Wheat Ridge could OK retail marijuana shops - The Denver Post
The Wheat Ridge City Council will vote Oct. 14 on regulations guiding the establishment of retail pot stores, grow operations, product manufacturing and testing facilities.
Amendment 64-related businesses cannot open statewide until Jan. 1. The state Department of Revenue was to begin accepting license applications Oct. 1.
Ken Johnstone, the city's community development director, said with retail marijuana, Wheat Ridge is taking a nearly identical approach as it did with medical marijuana.
"We're not trying to break any ground here," Johnstone said. "We're trying to follow past precedence in terms of medical marijuana and just align ourselves with the state."
Under the proposed regulations, retail marijuana businesses would be allowed only in two zoning districts, light commercial and industrial.
New businesses must also be at least 1,000 feet from any school, alcohol or drug treatment facility, college or residential child-care facility. They are also prohibited from being within three-quarters of a mile of any other medical or retail marijuana business.
That would leave few available sites within Wheat Ridge, although co-location of medical and retail businesses would be allowed, Johnstone said. The spacing and zoning requirements are the same for medical and retail marijuana.
If approved, the regulations would make Wheat Ridge a forerunner in Jefferson County.
So far, Edgewater is the only other city to allow Amendment 64-related businesses, the city council there approving rules Sept. 19.
Arvada, Golden and unincorporated Jefferson County are all under moratoriums, through March 2014, July 2014 and February 2015, respectively.
Westminster has already banned retail pot businesses outright, something the city council did in January.
Lakewood also has a moratorium in place through Jan. 1, although city officials are considering adding another year to the ban. If approved, the county's biggest city would not accept applications for recreational marijuana businesses through Jan. 1, 2015.
On first reading Sept. 9, the Wheat Ridge City Council split 5-2 in favor of allowing the new businesses. A final vote was scheduled for Sept. 23, but the council pushed it back to Oct. 14 so the full body could be in attendance.
District 4 Councilwoman Tracy Langworthy voted against the ordinance Sept. 9 and said in her mind, allowing retail businesses will only increase the access children have to marijuana.
"We need to look out for our children," Langworthy said. "It's a revenue source, I get it, and we need revenue, but this isn't the best way."
District 1 Councilman Bud Starker voted with the majority on first reading and said while he hasn't made his mind up on the final vote, the people of Colorado did approve Amendment 64.
"I think the (city) legislation that was introduced seems to balance the two interests – the will of the people and safeguarding the public," Starker said. "It's a good beginning point to have a discussion."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: denverpost.com
Author: Emilie Rusch
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Wheat Ridge could OK retail marijuana shops - The Denver Post
