Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2014
Source: Durango Herald, The (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Durango Herald
Contact: http://durangoherald.com/write_the_editor/
Website: http://durangoherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/866
Author: Sarah Mueller

CITY, COUNTY TO ROLL OUT POT RULES

Everything From Zoning, Morals to Be Considered

There's a lot to weed through when talking about pot.

Discussions may reach new highs Tuesday when the city of Durango and 
La Plata County holds public hearings on draft retail-marijuana 
regulations and revised medical marijuana code. The county hearing is 
scheduled after a 10 a.m. planning meeting. The city will hold its 
hearing during its 6:30 p.m. meeting.

The City Council meeting will be streamed live at durangoherald.com.

City councilors will be able to view new maps that reduce the buffers 
to the stores in some areas while maintaining federal setbacks in 
others, including a 1,000-foot distance requirement for schools, 
child care centers and substance-abuse treatment facilities. The maps 
don't include home day care businesses as child care centers. The 
city is also applying the 1,000-foot distance requirement to parks 
with children's playground equipment.

The maps indicate allowed zones for recreational pot shops in Bodo 
Industrial Park, western parts of the city and in Three Springs. 
There is space around East Third Avenue and College Drive, but the 
current draft ordinance bans the stores in the Central Business 
District. Recent surveys among the business community seemed to 
indicate an even split over whether retail pot stores should be 
allowed downtown.

The draft retail-marijuana ordinance allows for shops and testing 
facilities but not cultivation or manufacturing businesses. It also 
gives those already holding a medical marijuana license first dibs to 
obtain a retail license. Anyone may apply for a recreational license 
on or after Jan. 2. Pot businesses also are prohibited in residential 
zones and mixed-use building with residential units. Social clubs are 
not allowed.

Medical marijuana rules also are being revised to mirror what's being 
considered for recreational sales. The separation requirement is 
increasing to 1,000 feet to fall in line with proposed rules for 
retail. The revisions also include banning marijuana-infused products.

The county is proposing licensing several types of marijuana 
businesses, including retail stores, cultivation, manufacturing, dual 
operation of retail and medical facilities and off-premises storage. 
The county has a three-person licensing board for medical marijuana 
applicants and, soon, retail-license applicants.

La Plata County staff members are proposing licensees have good moral 
character. The county proposal also defines the many factors its 
licensing authority can consider in making a decision on moral character.

Inconsistent information on the application and what pops up during 
the investigation can make a difference, as can civil lawsuits that 
demonstrate a pattern of fraud or loss of a professional license. The 
authority also can consider rehabilitation, character references and 
educational achievements.

The county also is recommending revising its medical marijuana code 
to align with the draft recreational language.

Retail stores, unlike medical pot dispensaries, have to post a sign 
saying it's illegal to sell marijuana to minors younger than 21, it's 
illegal to transport it outside of Colorado and marijuana possession 
still is a federal crime.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom