Two local medical marijuana shops expect to receive clearance from the city of Cortez this week to open up retail operations.
City Council plans a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. at City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to consider approving retail marijuana licenses for The Herbal Alternative on Lebanon Road and the Beacon Wellness Group on Main Street.
Herbal Alternative owner Garrett Smith said city officials had indicated that he had met all municipal guidelines, and he anticipates receiving approval this week. The Herbal Alternative applied for its retail license on Oct. 10, 2014.
“I’ve been assured by the city that everything is in order,” he said.
The Herbal Alternative announced on its Facebook page last week that it would offer recreational sales on Jan. 29. Company officials expect to have topical lotions, hash, a dozen strains of marijuana and some edibles.
Beacon Wellness owner Paul Coffey also expects to open for retail operations after Tuesday’s meeting. He declined to give a specific date, but said he anticipated retail operations in a “couple of days.”
Coffey added that he was thankful for the city’s due diligence to ensure that retailers were able to enter the recreational marijuana industry.
“It’s amazing that two years after Colorado residents approved retail sales that Cortez is honoring the wishes of the voters,” said Coffey.
Beacon Wellness applied for its retail license on Sept. 30.
Commercial agriculture
After a 15-month construction process, The Herbal Alternative has increased it grow operation to almost 10,000 square feet, from 3,800 square feet. Because of space limitations, the company can grow up to 1,350 plants at a time.
“To be honest, we’ve already outgrown the new facility,” said Smith. “The industry moves so fast, so we know that we will have to expand again.”
Industry sources have indicated a 20,000 square-foot indoor grow operation was being planned on South Broadway.
Coffey added the next historic marker for the industry would come when more area farmers were permitted to tap into the marijuana trade. He said an agriculture infrastructure was paramount, and tax revenues could be used to build better roads and schools.
According to officials, city council will consider licensing two other Main Street medical marijuana dispensaries – DO Cortez and The Medicine Main – for retail sales on Feb. 10.
