La Plata County commissioners likely will approve land-use amendments today that would pave the way for medical marijuana growers to cultivate recreational marijuana.
It’s the first in a series of county regulations that will bring Colorado’s legal marijuana regime to La Plata County. The regulations come in response to Amendment 64, passed by Colorado voters in November 2012.
Commissioners decided to make it a priority to let growers expand their market, Commissioner Bobby Lieb said.
“That was a priority we established when we initially sat down to discuss the recreational marijuana regulations,” he said. “A lot of that was to not put them at a competitive disadvantage.”
The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to consider licensing for recreational growers next week.
“Getting these regulations in place is important to get operations up and running in a timely fashion and still considering the best interests of the community,” Commissioner Julie Westendorff said.
Recreational marijuana is already a bustling business in some Colorado municipalities, including Telluride and Denver.
Lieb defended the county’s go-slow approach.
“I know we got some heat from it, but I think it was the right thing to do,” he said. Lieb said the county “didn’t want to get too far out ahead of the state (regulations).”
The county’s medical marijuana growers have expressed interest in adding recreational marijuana to their portfolios.
“We have three (medical marijuana growers) licenses, and I think they’re all interested,” Lieb said.
Westendorff said it was clear from Amendment 64’s easy passage in the county that constituents are ready for recreational marijuana.
“Our job is to get (regulations) in place, so the community’s health and welfare is considered and still get the ball rolling,” she said.
The board will meet at 10 a.m. today in the meeting room at the La Plata County Courthouse.
cslothower@durangoherald.com
