Despite the fact Colorado marijuana sales nearly hit the , many communities in the state still struggle with how best to regulate the industry.
reports Boulder’s Marijuana Advisory Panel, which has been tasked with creating recommendations to address issues that make Boulder’s cannabis businesses less competitive, proposes code changes to allow both medical and recreational pot sales at the same location and to increase the number of licenses an individual can hold to six, while limiting sales to no more than three locations.
“It’s about equity and fairness for our businesses here in Boulder to allow them to be competitive regionally,” said panel member Andrea Meneghel. “We want to make sure that we’re not looking at this industry in a different or unfair way.”
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Between now and June, the group also will tackle issues that marijuana advocates say hurt businesses the most, including requiring dispensaries to close at 7 p.m. while neighboring communities allow them to remain open until 10 p.m., banning most advertising and sponsorships by marijuana businesses and banning customer discount or loyalty programs.
Longmont’s elected officials this week will begin discussions on whether to , the Times-Call reports.
Two marijuana dispensaries have located in unincorporated Boulder County areas surrounded by Longmont City limits. Mayor Dennis Coombs said he is leaning toward allowing retail marijuana on a limited basis. “It’s something we can’t stop so we might as well get on board. Plus, I’m an elected official and I believe we should do what the people want us to do and 58 percent (of Longmont voters) voted for (legalization of marijuana),” Coombs said.
City council members in and directed staff to clean up city codes to limit the number of medical stores to five and cap cultivation facilities at four, the Post Independent reports.
Council members discussed the issue after business and property owners asked the city to consider allowing retail stores and adding more cultivation facilities and other types of marijuana businesses such as manufacturing facilities.
“I can’t support recreational marijuana in my community and I won’t,” said council member Ed Green.
