Denver police issued seven violations for underage marijuana sales during an enforcement operation last week, officials said Wednesday.
Police say they conducted checks Friday on 30 Denver retail marijuana shops in an effort to audit any potential underage sales.
“We are disappointed,” said Lewis Koski, director of Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division, in a statement. “Up until now these compliance checks have been a bright spot for the industry. This recent check drops compliance to 92 percent.”
The news comes as a blow to recreational marijuana in Colorado, especially since in the roughly 21 months since recreational marijuana has been legal, stores mostly have been lauded for their compliance. Owners and operators have been praised for their handling of the hot-button topic of underage possession and consumption.
In Washington state, by comparison, which legalized recreational marijuana at the same time Colorado did but implemented recreational sales six months later, several stores have been reprimanded for selling to minors.
Koski said despite a lack of repeat violations at any one licensed shop, “this represents a downward trend in compliance that is concerning.”
Officials say the violations for selling marijuana to a person younger than 21 were issued at seven separate business. The charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
“Those dispensaries need to be held accountable,” said Tyler Henson, president of the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. “Your job as an owner and operator is to ensure your employees are readily trained.”
“That can’t happen again,” he added.
Henson said employers and their employees need to understand “whatap at stake here.”
Officials say the violations can mean a license suspension, a fine per individual violation, a fine in lieu of suspension of up to $100,000 and license revocation.
“Sanctions may also include restrictions on the license,” police said in a news release.
Investigators say they will file the cases with the Denver City Attorney’s Office, which could issue its own discipline ranging from license suspension to license revocation.
Denver marijuana shops where citations were issued
The Herbal Cure, 985 S. Logan St.
The Healing House, 2383 S. Downing St.
Pure Medical Dispensary, 505 W. 40th Ave.
LaContes Clone Bar, 105 E. 7th Ave.
Herbs 4 You, 20 E. 9th Ave.
Mile High Green Cross, 852 N. Broadway St.
Higher Expectations, 1332 S. Cherokee St.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
