A large number of people who weighed in during the last 30-plus days on Denver’s draft rules for social consumption areas were supportive of the city’s plan for regulating marijuana use in businesses and at events, asking for only a few tweaks and clarifications.
However, a contingent of Initiative 300 backers called the proposed rules too restrictive while other residents, particularly from the Washington Park West neighborhood, said they are not restrictive enough.
Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses will have to decide which group if any it will listen to as it finalizes its rules later this month. The city hopes to start reviewing and approving applications for social cannabis consumption areas and events starting in July.
Prior to a public hearing on the rules Tuesday, Molly Duplechian with the Denver Office of Marijuana Policy said the city received about 70 comments on the rules. More than half were supportive of what was proposed, Duplechian said.
There has to be a compromise, said Margie Valdez, zoning and planning chair for the Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation.
“In my honest opinion, I think these rules are fair for both the (designated consumption areas) and the supporters of the initiative. And they’re fair for the neighborhoods,” Valdez said.
credit:denverite.com
