Pubdate: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Author: Carlos Illescas AURORA'S POT JOURNEY Licensing a Convoluted Trial for Marijuana Business Aurora's venture into recreational marijuana has experienced a few bumps in its short time since inception Oct. 1 - from its complicated licensing process to a lawsuit questioning a license that was issued to a company denied a license in Massachusetts. Last month, Metro Cannabis sued Aurora, claiming the city "manipulated the process" in its failed effort to secure one of the 24 recreational marijuana licenses from the city. Also, the license issued to the Good Chemistry pot shop on East Iliff Avenue in Aurora is under scrutiny because the company misled the city of Boston by claiming it had endorsements from top city officials and politicians. It was denied a medical marijuana license there this year, but is allowed to reapply in 2015. Aurora City Councilman Bob Roth, who was chairman of a committee that crafted the city's rules and regulations regarding recreational pot, said that with any new implementation, there are going to be issues. "Obviously there's probably never a perfect scenario," Roth said. "You're never going to get everything 100 percent right. But I think the system we put together is well-conceived and well-thought-out. "Unfortunately, there have apparently been a couple of hiccups." City spokeswoman Julie Patterson said Aurora's Marijuana Enforcement Division was aware of the issues surrounding Good Chemistry, which did not return phone calls for comment. Its officials did disclose to the city during the application process that it had been denied in Boston. But Patterson said the company's scores in other areas that applicants were graded on allowed it to receive one of the city's pot licenses. "We were aware of the media coverage and did our own independent research," she said. "They were not denied a license based on any of the criteria in Aurora's ordinance." For companies looking to get into the marijuana sales game, it can be a confusing and arduous journey because there are no standard requirements they must reach. In one community, such as Denver, a hearing is held in which applicants make their best pitch on why they should receive a license. Others hold a lottery. Aurora rates applicants on a points system in a variety of categories, including experience or even if they belong to trade associations. Taylor West, deputy director of the Denver-based National Cannabis Industry Association, said it can be tough for would-be pot shop owners who have stores in different cities or states to make it through with a license elsewhere. "Anyone who is attempting to get into this industry is confronted right from the very beginning with the need for an attorney," she said. "It is an extremely complicated regulatory world." West said there just aren't enough cities, counties or states that allow marijuana sales - either medical or recreational-to make a determination on which are doing it best and which aren't. But that should change in the coming years as more areas embrace pot sales. "You are now seeing how convoluted the licensing process can be," West said. "It's not surprising applicants are having difficulties." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom