In the years following Colorado’s passing of Amendment 64, legalizing the purchase of up to 1 ounce of marijuana and permitting the sale, enforcement capabilities toward medical and retail marijuana have continued to evolve – most notably in the area of plant inventory and tracking technology.
Lafayette became one of the most recent Colorado cities to address the issue, as the City Council approved two ordinances Tuesday night that influence licenses for medical-marijuana testing facilities and requirements for marijuana-infused product manufacturers to operate locally.
While radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging makes it possible for Colorado officials to track marijuana plants from seed to sale, growers must conform to a more stringent computerized inventory process.
This local regulation was spread prior to the implementation of the state RFID system in order to limit the possibility of black-market product supplying the manufacturers. The local Marijuana Licensing Authority has deemed this requirement no longer necessary.
“Concerning the manufacture of marijuana-infused products,” said Lafayette City Clerk Susan Koster, “we were concerned that the product would be difficult to track, we were concerned that the black market would be supplying our kitchens and we decided that they would have to grow their products as well.
“What we found was that that has become no longer needed because of the system the state uses and has also become prohibitive to those who want to start a (marijuana-infused product business).”
Previously, testing of medical-marijuana product could be done in a retail-marijuana testing lab utilizing an occupational license from the state, officials said. Under the old regulation, Lafayette had no need for a medical-marijuana testing-facility license.
“Now that (the state) has created the license,” Koster said, “we need to create our own local classification. (The ordinance) accomplishes that.”
Officials also voted to eliminate the section of the code that prohibits a retail marijuana-infused product manufacturer from operating locally unless they have a local retail marijuana-cultivation license.
“We will just be updating our codes to keep in step with the state changes that are occurring,” Lafayette spokeswoman Debbie Wilmot said last week.
“Previously, they were required to grow their own marijuana. All of the checks and balances that the state has in place with regards to the radio frequency identification – they track everything from seed to plant. It kind of negates the need to have an additional level of authorization.”
Earlier this year – in line with the growth of the marijuana industry throughout Boulder County – Lafayette officials voted to approve the city’s second retail marijuana dispensary.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Lafayette Officials Approve Pot Shop Inventory And Tracking Regulation Changes
Author: Anthony Hahn
Contact: Colorado Hometown Weekly
Photo Credit: Paul Aiken
Website: Colorado Hometown Weekly