Denver’s 303 medical and adult-use dispensaries could soon receive an extension on their hours of operation.On Monday, a city council marijuana special-issue committee voted 11-2 in favor of allowing Denver’s dispensaries to stay open until 10 p.m. Currently, Denver’s dispensaries are permitted to operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The closing time of 7 p.m. limits Denver’s legitimate dispensary businesses while allowing their nearby competition and black market dealers to thrive. Glendale and Edgewater, two of Denver’s neighboring cities, allow cannabis sales until midnight; Aurora, Colorado, which is a 10-15 minute drive from downtown Denver, allows sales until 10 p.m.This new operating time will allow shoppers more convenient hours and should enhance Denver dispensaries’ business. Opponents of this measure cite concerns about noise and the effect on neighborhoods near dispensaries.
That notion was shot down by Councilman Paul Kashmann, who stated:
“Midnight is a non-starter for me, but 10 o’clock is a reasonable compromise for the consumer. These are not thugs and criminals that are doing this. These are going to be everyday folks looking to get their shopping done.”
The bill was originally slated to extend the operating hours to midnight, but that proposal was modified to reflect a 10 p.m. close time.
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