The Board of County Commissioners will be passing on a zoning resolution to the planning commission that prohibits private marijuana clubs and limits cultivation in unincorporated Jeffco.
Not only would the new section in the zoning resolution prohibit smoking establishments but it would also ban any events associated with marijuana and prevent any promotion of pot at local fairs.
The proposal also includes limited cultivation for any residence or co-op, with a total of 12 plants being the allowed maximum.
“Part of the idea is to deal with co-ops, the idea of several individuals coming together renting a greenhouse or some location and growing a lot of plants together,” said Eric Butler, assistant county attorney for Jeffco. “That couldn't be done under this proposal because one, you have to be at a residential property and two, even if you did have a greenhouse on residential property it would be limited to 12 plants total,” he said adding that a person would also have to be living at the property unless they are a patient of a caregiver. This section falls under the provisions of Amendment 20 which authorizes the use of medical marijuana for people who have a debilitating injury or illness in which pot may help with symptoms associated with the medical condition.
The limitation is similar to restrictions placed in Denver. Jeffco placed a moratorium on pot establishments including retail and smoking bars as well as cultivation or processing of pot outside of a residential home. The moratorium is set to expire this May. The county will move forward with a Marijuana Task Force after applications are turned in on March 21. The task force is set to meet for six months before handing over its findings to county commissioners.
“Going forward, if its deemed from the Marijuana Task Force that no, clubs should be allowed or yes, clubs should be allowed, we'll make adjustments,” Commissioner Don Rosier said.
Commissioners Casey Tighe and Faye Griffin agreed with Rosier's comments.
The resolution will head to the planning commission before coming back to the BCC for a public hearing about final approval.
