Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO) Column: CannaBiz Copyright: 2014 Colorado Springs Independent Contact: http://www.csindy.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536 Pubdate: 26 mar 14 Author: Bryce Crawford CITY COMES BACK FOR STUDIO A64, STATE REGULATORS GO TO WORK FOR MJ INDUSTRY, AND MORE City aims at A64 again After its initial attempt to shut down Studio A64 (332 E. Colorado Ave., studioa64.com) was defeated via appeal to the Planning Commission - which on Feb. 20 voted 7 to 2 in favor of the cannabis social club - Colorado Springs' Planning Department has appealed the decision to City Council, which will hear that appeal at its Tuesday, April 8, meeting. "To justify its decision to grant Studio A64's appeal, the City Planning Commission erroneously compared Studio A64 to a 'Social Club' under the umbrella definition of a '[Membership] Club' ..." reads a formal notice of appeal dated March 3. "The City Planning Commission's decision to grant the appeal and allow consumption of marijuana without any standards is clearly against the expressed intent of the Zoning Code ..." Asked if the city had ever appealed a commission decision like this during his time, planning director Peter Wysocki replied via email: "This is the first one." In response, owner KC Stark has organized a "RALLY TO SAVE STUDIO A64," where participants will meet at 7:45 a.m. the day of the hearing at his business, then march to City Hall. Attorneys get 'OK' The Associated Press reported Monday that the Colorado Supreme Court issued guidance to the state's attorneys allowing them to advise those in the marijuana industry, "as long as they believe those clients are abiding by state law." Lawyers were formerly in a bind from a December opinion issued by the Colorado Bar Association that cast doubt on the ethical soundness of industrial marijuana work. Revolving door at DOR In a press release last week, Denver Relief Consulting announced that the former head of the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, Laura Harris, has joined the firm to assist with "regulatory compliance consulting." Harris is the second former Department of Revenue employee to jump to the private sector: Longtime DOR employee Matt Cook, who basically created the MMED from scratch in 2010, also now consults. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom