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Silverthorne takes next steps in retail marijuana discussion

Joe Moylan
jmoylan@summitdaily.com

Today the Silverthorne Town Council will host a public hearing to introduce and address questions about its proposed rules for regulating retail marijuana establishments.

Matt Gennett, senior planner for the town of Silverthorne, said Tuesday many of those retail marijuana regulations featured in the proposed ordinance were taken almost verbatim from regulations adopted in 2009 for medical marijuana dispensaries.

For example, retail marijuana establishments will be regulated the same as medical marijuana dispensaries in terms of where they can be located in town, Gennett said, including setting limits on how close a retail marijuana establishment could be located in relation to schools, child care centers and other places of child education. During a town council work session last month those limits were proposed at 1,000 feet.



However, Gennett said retail marijuana establishments would be regulated differently from medical marijuana dispensaries in terms of operations.

“In order to acquire medical marijuana from a dispensary you need a state-issued card,” Gennett said. “In a retail business all you need to be is 21 years of age or older and be able to show proof.”



Additional regulations on retail marijuana establishments places certain restrictions on advertising, such as prohibiting the depiction of marijuana use in advertisements, as well as commonly known words like “marijuana” or “cannabis” to appear in the name of a retail business. The ordinance would also place controls on odor and restrict people with a criminal record from obtaining a retail license.

Although Amendment 64 allows for up to four types of uses, including retail establishments, standalone grow operations, production facilities and scientific testing facilities, Silverthorne’s proposed ordinance would only permit retail establishments. Retail marijuana business owners would be permitted to grow onsite, but would be prohibited from distributing marijuana products beyond the walls of their establishment, according to the proposed rules.

Similar to state proposals, Silverthorne’s ordinance would permit already established medical marijuana dispensary owners to either house a retail business in the same location — with separate entryways — or reapply for a retail license.

The ordinance regulating retail marijuana establishments is the only public hearing slated for today’s meeting. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Silverthorne Town Hall, 601 Center Circle.


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