Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jul 2014
Source: Fort Collins Coloradoan (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Fort Collins Coloradoan
Contact: http://www.coloradoan.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.coloradoan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1580
Author: Jason Pohl

FORT COLLINS' RETAIL MARIJUANA SHOPS WORK TO CLOSE GAP

There are approximately 130 state-licensed retail marijuana 
businesses in the five-county area near Denver. In Larimer County 
there are just three, according to the most recent state figures.

Put another way, there is one licensed recreational pot shop within 
that five-county metro area for every 13,000 adults 21 years of age 
and older - a ratio that soars to 72,000 adults for every one retail 
business in Larimer County, a Coloradoan analysis shows. Even if 
every local marijuana dispensary was instantly licensed for retail 
sales, the county still wouldn't match the proportional cannabis 
availability near Denver.

But that doesn't mean shops in the region aren't working to close the gap.

Though city officials were only reviewing one retail application as 
of press time, numerous others have taken out advertisements in the 
region promising recreational sales are "coming soon." With that much 
hype in a city that only has one retail shop open so far within Fort 
Collins proper, the landscape stands to change quickly.

Authorities know that. So do business owners.

Since Organic Alternatives on June 20 became the first retail 
marijuana store within Fort Collins city limits, owner Steve Ackerman 
has been busy. Really busy.

"We are definitely in a higher intensity mode of production than we 
were a month ago," he said, flanked by a team of workers trimming bud 
at Ackerman's north Fort Collins grow operation.

In recent months, he has revamped parts of his warehouse with a 
top-of-the-line grow room you need sunglasses to step into - new 
lamps more closely feel and act like the sun, which aids plant growth.

Ackerman acknowledges he comes to work every day with a list of 
things he wants to get done. Among his wishes: a series of 
greenhouses to build on his sustainable production that already culls 
power through wind energy.

Those dreams move forward an inch at a time due to the steady lines 
and draw of the Mountain Avenue business. It's not uncommon to spot 
lines out the door, leading him to think ahead about an industry that 
continues to rev up for the foreseeable future.

All indications are it will.

The Colorado Department of Revenue earlier this month released the 
first marijuana market study. Among the findings in the examination 
of Colorado's cannabis consumption, 130.3 metric tons of pot and 
related products were in demand, with a surging amount being bought 
by tourists.

Locally, the first sales tax figures are expected in coming weeks, 
showing for the first time what the financial impact has been on 
Northern Colorado.

Cristine Romarine suspects it will be telling, and she wants part of 
the action. As owner of Infinite Wellness Center, 900 N. College 
Ave., those wishes soon could come true.

The medical marijuana dispensary is next in line for retail marijuana 
sales within Fort Collins, the city clerk's office confirmed.

If approved, Romarine said she could open within a few days and will 
finally be able to give the dozens of callers each week answers they 
want to hear when asked whether they're open for retail sales.

"I think the demand is going to be there," she said, adding that she 
spent part of last week doing interviews for new staff. "I think 
we've got a pretty good game plan... I think we're really prepared."

The city has 12 licensed medical marijuana outlets, which are the 
only businesses that may apply for licenses to sell recreational pot. 
Deputy Chief City Clerk Rita Knoll said she doesn't anticipate every 
business will apply by year's end, so it could be a while, if ever, 
before Northern Colorado faces the same saturation levels.

The magic number to balance out the ratio near Denver is 16. 
Approximately 9 percent of Coloradans are believed to use marijuana. 
There won't be lines a thousand people long, but the demand on any 
given day - especially around weekends - remains.

In Tom Wilczynski's eyes, that's just all the more opportunity.

As the owner of Smokey's 420 House - formerly known as Cannabis Care 
Wellness Center - in south Fort Collins, along with Cannabis Care 
Wellness Center in Garden City, he has ended up sending recreational 
users to his Garden City location. Many re tourists who pass through 
Greeley on their way here, anyway, he said.

It's a market he's excited for Fort Collins to capitalize on. With a 
new name and reinvented image following a compliance bust earlier 
this year, Wilczynski expects things will change quickly, and he's 
hoping to be open to commence retail operations sometime in September.

By year's end, it's reasonable he could be among as many as five 
retail shops in Larimer County, depending on the rigorous licensing process.

It's an ambitious goal, he admits. But it's one he says is worth shooting for.

"People want to go to the destination that is Fort Collins," he said. 
"The future is bright. The quicker Fort Collins can get everyone open 
for recreational marijuana sales, the quicker we can get into the 
game in terms of tourism and taking advantage of that."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom