• 07
  • June
    2010

Entrepreneurs seeking to open medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of Pueblo, Colorado, will more than likely need to be patient and flexible. This is because such facilities may not be issued the necessary licensure to operate until July 2011.

According to the Pueblo City Council and the Pueblo Planning Commission, most (if not all) prospective owners of medical marijuana dispensaries would be unable to meet the rigorous requirements of the state's new marijuana law (House Bill 1284) and the significant procedural challenges posed by local law within the necessary timeframe.

Specifically, the prospective owner of a medical marijuana dispensary in Pueblo would have to complete all of the following by September 1:

• Certify to the state that it grows at least 70 percent of its marijuana 
• Secure a limited-use permit from the city of Pueblo
• Complete the necessary public hearings before the City Council and Planning Commission

Failure to meet these requirements in a timely manner would effectively postpone licensure in the city until July 2011.

This license moratorium would give both the City Council and the Planning Commission a prolonged period of time to consider and enact even more stringent requirements for medical marijuana dispensaries.

In fact, both governmental entities are currently considering adopting the following citywide regulations:

• A requirement that any licensed facility that grows marijuana in the city must do so in an adjacent building

• So-called "buffering" restrictions that prohibit the opening of medical marijuana facilities in certain areas, such as residential or school zones

Stay tuned for further developments ...

Related Resources:   
• Med Pot Centers Unlikely Before July 2011 (The Pueblo Chieftain)