Pubdate: Tue, 10 Aug 2010
Source: Loveland Connection (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Loveland Connection
Contact: http://www.coloradoan.com/section/LOVELAND0802
Website: http://www.lovelandconnection.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5172
Author: Maria Schmitt

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY PROPONENTS PROPOSE SELF REGULATIONS

Seven Loveland medical marijuana dispensaries have joined to form the
Loveland Association of Wellness and recently drafted a resolution
outlining the group's efforts to ensure their businesses are more
acceptable to the community.

Additionally, the businesses plan to host open house events from 11
a.m. to noon Aug. 17 and Aug. 24.

Anthony Freitag, co-owner of Paradise City Caregivers, said he hopes
the open houses bring residents into the dispensaries, allowing them
to see what the businesses do.

The group's resolution includes regulations that limit signs on and
around medical marijuana centers and eliminates advertising that
promotes the businesses and/or their products.

Loveland Association of Wellness, or LAW, members also promise to
prohibit consumption of marijuana in retail space or common areas,
limit medical marijuana sales to 2 ounces per person per 96 hours and
attempt to confirm the legitimacy of incoming patients' documents,
according to the resolution.

LAW members planned to submit the proposal to the City Council early
this week, Freitag said.

The earliest a discussion about the proposal could make it onto an
agenda would be for the Aug. 17 regular meeting, Loveland City Clerk
Teresa Andrews said Monday.

How much sales tax do medical marijuana shops make?

One main question among Loveland residents concerning medical
marijuana is how much sales tax revenue the shops bring it.

Is it worth keeping them around for the city revenue?

According to city revenue manager Jim Wedding, the 14 marijuana shops
in Loveland bring in $7,000-7,500 each month in sales tax revenue.

If each shop brought in $7,300 each month in sales tax, the industry
would contribute nearly $88,000 to the city annually.

Comparatively, beer, wine and liquor stores bring in about of $50,000
in sales tax each month.

For June, these stores garnered $61,289; May, $52,549; and April,
$50,461.

Of the 14 medical marijuana businesses, Wedding said, six make up
about 80 percent of the total sales tax earned.
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MAP posted-by: Matt