Pubdate: Tue, 23 Feb 2016
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2016 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Jon Murray

CAPS ON MARIJUANA BUSINESSES COULD BENEFIT NEIGHBORHOODS

Denver City Council members want to replace a moratorium restricting 
the growth of the state's largest legal marijuana market with caps 
that they argue would protect saturated neighborhoods.

In some ways, the upshot of setting location caps on dispensaries and 
grow houses-both citywide and within smaller geographic areas - would 
be similar to the recently expanded moratorium, which bars new 
players from entering the market.

But supporters who are hammering out details, including how to set 
the limits, point to key differences: The caps would allow some new 
business owners to dive in without increasing the number of 
locations. They also would offer more protection to low-income 
neighborhoods with industrial areas that complain about cultivation odors.

And by limiting locations, the new rules would encourage the industry 
to convert medical marijuana dispensaries to recreational shops, 
which face more regulation and charge higher taxes.

Councilwoman Robin Kniech unveiled the outlines of her ideas Monday 
in the council's Marijuana Moratorium Committee. They haven't been 
drafted yet into a formal proposal.

"With the citywide approach, you can move around pieces on the chess 
board, but you can't add new pieces," Kniech said.

But under her proposal, potential new entrants could apply for a 
lottery when existing businesses close or have their licenses revoked.

That's not the case now. Late last year, the council extended through 
May 1 a 2-year-old moratorium that has allowed only businesses that 
had medical marijuana licenses in late 2013, a few months before 
retail sales began, to open recreational dispensaries, growhouses or 
edibles manufacturers.

The council also added a moratorium on new medical marijuana license 
applications. Mayor Michael Hancock's administration had sought 
another two years for that expanded moratorium, but council members 
approved a shorter extension so they could consider permanent rules 
that address concerns about the industry.

The administration and representatives of the industry, and pending 
applicants, are finding elements to like in Kniech's proposal, but 
all are waiting for more details. Some advocates say the industry 
should be able to grow as Denver grows.

So far, edibles manufacturers aren't being targeted.

OnMonday, 11 of the council's 13members took part in a discussion 
that found wide consensus on Kniech's goal of creating caps, along 
with concerns about some details.

Those include whether to set the caps so they include dozens of 
still- pending applications for dispensaries and cultivation 
facilities, as Kniech would do, or set them lower to bar more 
locations than exist now - or even contract the number of locations 
in some areas over time.

The Denver Post reported last month that residents in some low-income 
areas live amid higher concentrations of marijuana businesses.

Council president Chris Herndon said the March 2 meeting will focus 
on getting input and reaction from the industry as well as community 
and issue advocates.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom