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."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom