Cortez council advances retail pot law

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Cortez council advances retail pot law

No public opposition at council meeting; Archibeque stands alone
Pot brownies would be banned if law passes

Under the proposed ordinance to regulate recreational marijuana in Cortez, local gangapreneurs would not be allowed to bake their own brownies.
City Attorney Mike Green said Ordinance No. 1192, Series 2014, if enacted, would not permit retail dispensaries to manufacture marijuana infused products. The ordinance would only license recreational owners to cultivate, sale and test marijuana.
Green cited the lack of state approved testing facilities as the reason city staff recommended prohibiting the manufacture of retail marijuana infused products in Cortez. All manufactured marijuana infused products, including every batch of brownies, are subject to testing to ensure proper THC levels, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
“There’s still only four testing facilities up and running, and they’re all on the Front Range,” Green said.
Despite the retail ban, the city does allow medical dispensaries to manufacture marijuana-infused products. Green described “small issues” had surfaced regarding code violations with one medical dispensary licensed to manufacture infused products, but added the city has not issued any show cause hearings or taken disciplinary actions against any local gangapreneurs.
Medical dispensaries have asked the city to reconsider its ban on retailers wishing to bake marijuana brownies. Nathan Fete, co-owner of The Beacon Wellness Group, said his company didn’t have a commercial-grade kitchen to properly prepare marijuana edibles, but other local businesses did have that capability.
“If a business has the equipment to bake and cook, then they should be allowed to make edibles,” said Fete.
Garrett Smith, owner of The Herbal Alternative on Lebanon Road, said the same process remained whether manufacturing infused products for medical or retail customers. His dispensary also lacks the proper equipment to manufacture edibles.
“There’s a lot of consumer demand for these type of products,” Smith said. “We could easily see our revenues double, probably more.”
While dispensaries would be prohibited from manufacturing their own marijuana edibles, gangapreneurs could still sell infused products if the ordinance passes.
“All of the edibles would have to be bought from (outside) wholesalers,” said Green.
Green said city staff was working to develop inspection guidelines and standards for local businesses wishing to manufacture retail marijuana edibles and lotions. Pending city council approval, retail dispensaries could potentially obtain manufacturing licenses in the future, he said.
“The city council can always come back and change (the law) later,” said Green. “Right now, it appears we aren’t ready to handle manufacturing, because of some unknowns regarding the inspection process.”
The Medicine Man is only local medical dispensary licensed to manufacture marijuana infused products in Cortez. Attempts to reach the business for comment were unsuccessful.
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