La Plata County commissioners voted Tuesday to delay approving new land-use regulations for growers of recreational marijuana despite broad agreement to allow medical marijuana growers to cultivate recreational pot.
The Board of County Commissioners will revisit the regulations next Tuesday. Commissioner Gwen Lachelt asked for additional language to clarify when new growers can apply to begin operating.
The county is moving first to allow existing medical marijuana growers to produce recreational pot, ahead of new applicants. That follows state guidelines, County Attorney Sheryl Rogers said.
Commissioners also are scheduled to tackle licensing for recreational growers next week.
Lachelt and Julie Westendorff voted to continue the resolution and land-use code amendments, delaying it until next week. Bobby Lieb voted against delaying the matter, asking what the new language would accomplish.
Lachelt said the proposed regulations were confusing. La Plata County has a ban in place while it works on recreational marijuana regulations.
“The ban is making this particular task very clumsy,” she said.
Some jurisdictions, including Denver and Telluride, already are allowing recreational marijuana. State law paved the way for recreational marijuana operations beginning Jan. 1.
Jonny Radding, co-owner of Durango Organics, said small growers need to be able to compete with large growers on the Front Range. He urged the county to allow growers to use greenhouses.
“We believe that’s the future of the marijuana business,” Radding said. “It’s going to be in greenhouses.”
He also urged commissioners to keep existing growers at the front of the line for recreational licenses.
“There’s a reason the state did that,” Radding said, explaining that medical marijuana growers already have passed background checks and jumped through other hoops.
Durango Organics has a grow facility in Hesperus and a dispensary in Bodo Industrial Park in Durango.
Radding was diplomatic when asked for reaction to the board’s latest delay.
“There’s some stumbling blocks, but they’re trying to work through it,” he said.
cslothower@durangoherald.com
