AURORA | Entrepreneurs interested in rolling out new marijuana businesses won’t be doing so in Aurora for about a year.
Aurora City Council members voted unanimously June 3 to ban all commercial marijuana establishments in Aurora until May 2014.
But council members reiterated that the ordinance isn’t a permanent ban on all commercial marijuana establishments.
“We’re not saying no forever, but we’re not saying yes right now,” said Councilman Brad Pierce.
However, council’s new marijuana ordinance does ban marijuana clubs and marijuana-related special events in perpetuity.
Under the ordinance, council members are allowed to offer licensing regulations for marijuana establishments anytime between now and May 2014.
Council’s Amendment 64 Ad Hoc committee will now spend the next few months deciding which marijuana establishments should be allowed and how to license and zone those that are allowed.
“This will continue to be a work in progress … but it’s important to note that it’s incumbent on us to reflect and abide by the vote of the will of the people,” said Councilman Bob Roth.
Amendment 64, which was approved by a majority of voters statewide and in Aurora last November, allows cities to draft licensing regulations for four types of marijuana businesses: marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, marijuana testing facilities and retail marijuana stores.
Councilman Bob Broom voted for the temporary ban but said he will vote against any future ordinance that allows marijuana businesses in the city.
Broom said he opposes recreational marijuana because it’s still illegal under federal law and he believes it’s a gateway drug to cocaine and other illegal substances.
“No amount of revenue the city is going to get is going to cover the cost of policing it, and the cost to our society,” Broom said.
Budget officials have said Aurora could generate up to $2.5 million annually in sales tax revenues and licensing fees if marijuana retailers were regulated like liquor stores.
Aurora City Council members approved their marijuana ordinance the same day Denver City Council members informally voted to allow commercial marijuana within the city.
Also at the council meeting, the St. Therese Parish site gained preliminary approval by council members to be considered a historic district. St. Therese Parish includes a group of five buildings near 1243 Kingston Street and was established in 1926 as Aurora’s first Roman Catholic parish, according to city documents. The only other historic district in the city is Delaney Farm at 170 S. Chambers Road, which was built in the 1880s.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.