Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jan 2016
Source: Boulder Weekly (CO)
Copyright: 2016 Boulder Weekly
Contact:  http://www.boulderweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/57
Author: Paul Tiger

POT COMES AT A PRICE

Recently, a Boulder high tech firm working on solid-state energy 
innovations lost its industrial space to a commercial marijuana grow 
operation. The property owner was enticed to lease to a marijuana 
grow, understanding that his new tenant could easily afford higher 
rents. The technology company and its highly skilled and 
well-educated employees were displaced by bud trimmers.

In an area long referred to as Silicon Mountain (now a trade name for 
a solid state memory firm), Boulder County has been home to an 
amazing assortment of high tech companies. People from around the 
country relocated here to enjoy the benefits of life at the foot of 
the Rockies while inventing and innovating new technologies.

All good things may now come to an end, or perhaps it is simply time 
to move on. Our future has gone to pot. Longmont is next on the list, 
while our City Council ponders potential income from weed.

While it is possible that Longmont may have a need for pot shops to 
increase its sales tax coffers in retail marijuana locations, the 
product has to be grown somewhere. The Council is giving 
consideration to having commercial grows within our city.

Presently, commercial and particularly industrial space is limited 
and leasing at premium prices. There is simply not enough space for 
industry to find a home or expand. One example has been Digital 
Globe, which moved its headquarters to Westminster when it could not 
find suitable expansion space here.

If our City Council opens up the marijuana grow market, permitting it 
in our commercial property sector, we should understand by the 
examples given, that property owners may well adopt the Green Dream. 
A loss to technology innovation and highly skilled jobs. 
Semiconductor engineers who want to remain in Longmont may need to 
retrain to be bud trimmers.

Paul Tiger, Luddite/Longmont
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom