Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Ingold
Page: 2A

POT SHOPS PASS UNDERAGE TEST

Stings by State Don't Turn Up Retailers That Sold to Minors

No recreational marijuana stores sold pot to minors during
underage-compliance stings across the state, according to the Colorado
Department of Revenue.

Authorities in Denver and Pueblo, working with regulators from the
state Marijuana Enforcement Division, conducted 20 undercover stings
in which they saw whether a store sold pot to someone under 21.
Sixteen of the compliance checks occurred in Denver, home to most of
the state's recreational marijuana stores.

So far, no store sold to someone under age in the checks.

"It is imperative that we keep marijuana out of the hands of kids,"
Barbara Brohl, the executive director of the Department of Revenue,
which includes the Marijuana Enforcement Division, said in a
statement. "These results show that strong efforts are being made by
the MED and the marijuana business licensees to do just that."

While medical marijuana stores can sell to registered patients under
21, recreational stores can sell only to those 21 and over and must
check identification. Stores that are found selling to someone under
age could have their license suspended or revoked or face a fine up to
$100,000.

"We are pleased with the results and will continue to monitor the
businesses to ensure that the compliance efforts are maintained," MED
director Lewis Koski said in a statement.

Tuesday marks the six-month anniversary of the start of recreational
marijuana sales in Colorado, and marijuana advocates on Thursday
pointed to the lack of underage-compliance violations in arguing that
legalization has been positive for Colorado. They also cited a drop in
overall crime in Denver and a drop in all marijuana cases that could
see authorities in Colorado this year pursuing only a quarter the
number of marijuana prosecutions as they did prelegalization.
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