DENVER, CO. - FEBRUARY 04: Kayvan Khalatbari owns Denver Relief, a marijuana growing, dispensary, and consulting business. Khalatbari and his employees are meticulous in their marijuana cultivation from start to finish and says the process takes constant care and vigilance by anyone considering growing the plant. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)

Economics

Boulder City Council Bans Recreational Cannabis

Published on March 11, 2013

By Toby Rogers

The Boulder City Council voted to delay legalizing cannabis until 2014. The move was a major blow to the cannabis reform movement. Being that Boulder is one of the most progressive counties in Colorado, activists around the nation perceive the measure as a major setback.

Representatives of the cannabis industry were not pleased. “Businesses need to know if Boulder is in or is Boulder out,” Gard said at the meeting. “That would reassure everyone that the marijuana business will continue even if the medical model becomes a lame duck.”

The Council debated how to zone where in Boulder smoking cannabis would be permitted. Coffee shops were ruled out as were hotels, the street and backyards, crippling any plans for “cannabis tourism.”

The number of plants was also in contention. Private homes were limited to six plants, while dispensaries are limited to 500 plants, as well as a limit on how many clients they can accept. Amendment 64, requires Colorado to finalize cannabis regulation by July 1, 2013 and issue licenses by January 1, 2014.