The Archuleta County Marijuana Update Citizens Advisory Committee recently picked up its discussion on possibly changing the county’s marijuana ordinance in regard to how much flower product sold in retail stores is required to be grown in the county.
The committee initially began discussing section 6 of Ordinance 13-2015 during its Sept. 19 meeting, which is the section that states “no less than seventy percent (70%) of the product grown under the optional premises cultivation operation license is made available for sale to the public through a facility licensed in Archuleta County.”
County Attorney Todd Weaver explained in an interview that the consensus from the committee following its discussion on the matter during the Oct. 17 meeting is to change that requirement from 70 percent of flower product being sold to be cultivated from the seller’s own grow to any grow operation located within the county.
“So, allowing a little more flexibility but still limiting it to cultivations located within the county,” he said, explaining that currently retail stores have to supply 70 percent of flower from their own grow facility.
During the Oct. 17 meeting, committee member Jeremy Bonin mentioned that having that requirement in place will keep money circulating within the community rather than sending jobs off to other parts of the state.
“I think it needs to be left in place,” Bonin said.
Weaver mentioned during the same meeting that he has “no problem” leaving that requirement in place, but asked the board if there was a desire to change that requirement or reduce the percentage to 60 percent.
“Does this open up an opportunity, business wise, to help the local operations? And that’s what I kinda wanted to throw out there,” Weaver said.
Bonin expressed that taking away the requirement would have a negative impact on existing local businesses.
“To take it away would be a huge disservice to everybody that’s already in the community because we’ve all put the investment into building these facilities and, frankly, now …. demand is far down that I don’t know that anybody’s even using their full facilities or if they are they’re definitely wholesaling out of Pagosa, which is what we’re having to do to stay alive,” Bonin said.
Weaver mentioned that there has been a drop statewide in the marijuana market since Colorado first legalized recreational marijuana sales in 2014.
“I don’t think it’s a hot commodity these days,” Weaver said.
During the meeting, Weaver suggested the idea of allowing flexibility for store owners to contract with other growers in the county.
Pagosa Springs Town Clerk/Finance Director April Hessman suggested that the topic be put on an agenda for a future joint meeting between the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and Pagosa Springs Town Council.
Weaver mentioned in the interview that he agreed the topic should be discussed at a future joint meeting so that the town and county can coordinate to have the same regulations.
Weaver also explained that some of the new types of licenses available through the state include a testing facility license and a hospitality license that allows for marijuana to be consumed on-site.
He explained that the BoCC will need to first decide what types of licenses it wants to allow to be issued in the county before a final ordinance can be presented for approval.
“I need to know that before I can bring a final ordinance for a first reading to the BoCC because I have to include those licenses in the draft,” he said.
Weaver indicated that the committee has worked through approximately 70 percent of the ordinance and anticipates one or two more committee meetings to be held to work through the remaining portions.
Weaver noted that the BoCC ultimately makes the final decision as to what types of marijuana licenses will or will not be allowed.
He mentioned that the BoCC will likely decide that sometime in January 2025, and then a final ordinance can be presented.
“I‘d like to get this wrapped up and adopted and go through the ordinance process in the first quarter next year. That’s my goal,” he said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
