Pubdate: Fri, 09 Aug 2013
Source: Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Pueblo Chieftain
Contact:  http://www.chieftain.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1613
Author: Nick Bonham

DEPARTMENT OF POT?

Licensing and enforcement of recreational marijuana-related businesses
could mean growing a new department at Pueblo County.

In drafting regulations and planning for the future of legalized pot,
commissioners Thursday said licensing fees will fund a licensing
officer and enforcement officer, creating a new small county office.

To begin with, commissioners see licensing and enforcement as one or
two jobs. Either way, that would alleviate the workload for the county
law office, which has been handling an increasing number of medical
marijuana cases.

The new office will be under the authority of county
commissioners.

"The fees are incredibly important to make this work. It's likely that
we won't make enough off sales tax to make this work the first year,
but we're striving to be a model, not just for Colorado, but maybe the
nation," Commissioner Liane "Buffie" McFadyen said Thursday.

Commissioner Sal Pace envisions fees paying off in the first year.
Sales tax from medical marijuana has gone up this year, grossing about
$4,000 a month, he said.

Commissioners also want to implement a fee that would protect small
local businesses against larger retail pot businesses that could
relocate here next year to marijuana-friendly Pueblo County.

The proposal is to implement an annual fee based on the square footage
of the retail store. The larger the operation, the more they'd pay.

"That may alleviate some of the anxiety for some of the existing
medical marijuana industry and give them sure footing to compete
before larger operations move into Pueblo County," McFadyen said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt