Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jan 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Ingold, The Denver Post

COLORADO'S FIRST MARIJUANA CLUB SHUT DOWN IN LANDLORD DISPUTE

The first recreational pot club to open in Colorado has already closed
its doors, after a dispute with its landlord.

The White Horse Inn, in the tiny southern Colorado town of Del Norte,
opened Monday as the first club in the state to offer patrons a chance
to have a joint with their cup of joe. But owner Paul Lovato said
Tuesday morning it was that early open date that caused problems.

Though Lovato had the keys to the building that housed the White Horse
Inn on Monday, his lease on the building didn't start until Tuesday.
Lovato said, when his landlord saw the publicity about the club, he
canceled the lease before it took effect.

"By opening early I kind of screwed myself out of my building," Lovato
said Tuesday.

Colorado voters in November legalized use and limited possession of
marijuana. Though it currently remains illegal to sell non-medical
marijuana in the state - recreational pot shops won't be able to get
licenses to open for about another year - the law allows people to
give marijuana to one another without compensation.

Lovato's business model called for having a storefront where customers
could buy coffee, T-shirts and other items and then a private building
next door where they could smoke free samples of marijuana. He had
planned to open just after New Year's Eve ticked over into New Year's
Day. But pressure from another cannabis venue - Denver's Club 64, a
members-only gathering that intends to stage at different spots
throughout the year - caused Lovato to speed up his timetable.

Lovato said he opened for a few hours during the day Monday, long
enough to be the first in the state and to draw the media attention
that came with the distinction.

"Wow guys!" Lovato wrote on the club's Facebook page. "Today was a
blast and a blur!"

The publicity also drew the attention of his landlord, who was less
thrilled about the business, Lovato said.

"It was really unexpected," he said. "I got caught up in the whole, 'I
want to be the first to open' thing. And I did that. I was the first.
.. I'm pretty proud of that."

Lovato said he may adopt Club 64's model for the next year and then
try to open a recreational marijuana shop when he's allowed to. Until
then, he said, he will do what he can to keep his vision for the White
Horse Inn as alive as possible.

After Monday's opening, Lovato said he got calls from people in New
Mexico who wanted to drive up to visit. He expected them to arrive
sometime Tuesday morning.

"We're doing the White Horse Inn at my house today," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D