The Durango Local Licensing Authority gave a second chance to a young medical marijuana employee, but if the city’s new rules of retail and medical marijuana pass, the board won’t see many more of these applications.
The board Tuesday approved the application of Nickolas Steven Noto, 21, to work at the Durango Organics and Wellness Center, a medical pot dispensary inside city limits. As a juvenile, he was arrested four times between 2008 and 2010 for stealing, resisting arrest and violating the terms of La Plata County Drug Court, which is an alternative program for offenders. He didn’t disclose the arrests on his application.
Jonny Radding, co-owner of Durango Organics, told authority members Noto was currently working in the business’s grow house in the county and wanted to give Noto a chance to change his life after his juvenile arrests.
“We felt he deserved another chance,” Radding said. “We told Nick if he goes to the state and obtained a state badge through them, that we would hire him at least at our warehouse facility in the county, where he’s working now. We’d like to have him work for our store within the city limits if he qualifies.”
Noto qualified for a state badge. Employees of marijuana businesses must have valid state identification badges. The Durango City Council is currently holding public hearings on a proposed ordinance regulating recreational sales and updating the medical pot code. The draft language removes the board’s oversight of employees, leaving it to the state.
“So we’re eunuchs, is that it?” authority member Robert Ledger asked.
Authority Chairman Ron LeBlanc said the local board would still approve the business owners and managers. He also verified with City Attorney Dirk Nelson that if the board decide not to take action, the state’s approval of Noto would be final after the ordinances took effect, expected July 1.
“I do believe people deserve to get a second chance in life, especially when they did something as an adolescent,” Radding said. “I hope I’m not going to put my foot in my mouth with that. But on the other hand, I am trying to give somebody I know a little bit a second chance. He’s seemed to have shown us he is a responsible, hard worker.”
Ledger said approving the application would go against the historical decision-making of the authority. The board has generally denied applicants who have had drug problems within the past five years.
“I’m willing to roll the dice on Mr. Noto,” he said.
The vote was 2-1, with Ledger and LeBlanc voting to approve and authority member Leonard Atencio voting against.
smueller@durangoherald.com
