The Durango City Council approved a 250-foot buffer between marijuana shops Tuesday night.
In the Central Business District, council approved an additional regulation that would prevent marijuana shops from opening on the same block, which would keep competing shops from side streets, on the street behind the business and across the street.
The 250-foot buffer wasn’t quite big enough to create this buffer along Main Avenue.
“The Central Business District is a different animal,” Councilor Sweetie Marbury said.
After hearing from marijuana industry representatives, the council promised to consider a cap on the total number of licenses in the future. A cap could preserve space for existing businesses to relocate if they needed to move, said Carolynn Raish with Durango Organics.
Industry representatives also asked that the city introduce the same regulations citywide, which could prevent marijuana shops from locating in areas like the Tech Center and Bodo Industrial Park.
“I don’t think it’s good to have a green mile in Bodo Park,” Councilor Dean Brookie said.
Executive Director of Celebrating Health Communities Coalition Pat Senecal said introducing caps and buffers helps prevent marijuana shops from saturating Durango and helps prevent underage marijuana use.
“We have, in contrast to other counties, seen an increase in youth use,” she said.
Now that the council has voted for the buffer, it is expected to lift the moratorium on marijuana shops in some parts of town on April 5, when the new regulations are expected take effect.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
