Marijuana: Boulder official calls for dual licenses on pot shops
In proposing the dual licensing program, Boulder is referencing a model in which private merchants can open shops -- as opposed to one in which the state has sole ownership and control. And some of the original backers of A64 argue that the amendment is written in such a way that lawmakers cannot establish a system where only the state runs the industry.
Some counties, however, are working to avoid these concerns altogether -- by passing outright bans on retail pot establishments through local ordinances. Douglas County was the first to implement such a policy last month, even though it will be at least a year before any shop can open its doors, since the legislature must create the regulatory framework.
Sam Levin First meeting of the Amendment 64 task force.
In the push for a dual licensing program, Boulder officials also argue that the city has successfully responded to medical marijuana applications -- processing over 125 applications, 117 of them within eleven months of November 2010. The city has completed renewals on all but three of the licenses and the Boulder Police Department has inspected each licensed location for compliance at least three times, Brautigam says.
"Our regulatory activity does not appear to have limited their business," she writes in the letter. "The dispensaries reported taxable sales in 2011 of approximately $20 million. We have achieved what we believe is an appropriate balance between protection of our community and execution of state law in enabling medical marijuana businesses."
Here's the full letter.
Enabling Legislation for Amendment 64
More from our Marijuana archive: "Marijuana: Colorado Springs owes $3.3M-plus after dispensary prosecution fails, attorney says"
Follow Sam Levin on Twitter at @SamTLevin. E-mail the author at Sam.Levin@Westword.com.
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