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1. Can cannabis businesses now begin operating in Grand Junction?

This City is currently scheduled to begin accepting applications for retail cannabis stores and co-located medical and retail cannabis stores for ten (10) sites starting May 9 at 8 a.m. through June 8 at 5 p.m. Testing facility licenses have been allowed in the City since October 2016.

2. Who will permit cannabis businesses?

All cannabis businesses in the state of Colorado require licenses from both the State and the local jurisdiction.

3. What kinds of cannabis businesses may come to Grand Junction?

The City allows the following license types:  Retail Cannabis Stores, Co-Located Retail and Medical Cannabis Stores, Retail Testing Facilities, and Medical Testing Facilities.

4. Where can I find information about State laws related to cannabis?

The official State web portal for cannabis regulations in Colorado can be accessed on the State's Marijuana Enforcement Division website. 

5. What other rules about cannabis are changed by these ballot questions?

Ballot questions 2A and 2B provide for the taxation of cannabis businesses and allow the City Council to promulgate regulations that would provide for cannabis business licensing. No other elements of the State or local rules for cannabis and cannabis businesses are changed. For example, the following State of Colorado laws remain in effect:

• Public consumption of cannabis is prohibited. 
• Marijuana cannot be consumed in a vehicle and cannot be transported in an open container. Driving under the influence of cannabis can result in a DUI.
• An individual may cultivate no more than six (6) cannabis plants in their home.
• An individual may possess no more than one (1) ounce of cannabis.
• Employers and property owners may continue to restrict cannabis use by their employees and on their properties.
• No change to maximum possession amount of one (1) ounce or an equivalent amount of THC.
• Interstate transportation of cannabis products remains illegal under State and Federal law.

6. Where will cannabis businesses be allowed to operate?

Questions such as the type of cannabis businesses that may operate, where they may operate, and how many may operate are not determined by ballot measures 2A and 2B; they would be defined in further regulation as may be adopted by City Council.

The City Council is considering an ordinance on May 4 that would allow Regulated Cannabis Stores in the B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2, MU, BP and MX zone districts. The ordinance further includes buffering provisions. As currently drafted, the ordinance provides that no Regulated Cannabis Stores shall be located:

• Within 1000 feet of any private or public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school. 
•  Within 1000 feet of Colorado Mesa University (Main Campus) and Western Colorado Community College.
• Within 500 feet of any services for prevention, treatment, or recovery from substance use and mental health concerns, as licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH).

A list of schools and licensed treatment facilities can be found on the City’s Cannabis Licensing webpage. 

7. Can I improve my chances of securing a license for my cannabis business by working with the City before licenses applications are opened?

No. If and when license applications are opened, only those materials submitted with the application would be considered in the licensing review.

8. Do measures 2A and 2B affect the operations of hemp businesses and CBD businesses?

No. Measures 2A and 2B affect only marijuana businesses, where products meet the THC threshold of marijuana (0.3% THC). Businesses where cannabis products do not meet that THC threshold are not affected by Measures 2A and 2B.

9. I previously operated or owned a medical marijuana business in the City of Grand Junction. Will new licenses be granted to former operators first?

No. The City will conduct a randomized selection of all qualified applicants.

10. How will tax revenues collected from cannabis sales be utilized?

Use of Cannabis Funds

The passage of 2A and 2B constitutes a new funding source to support enforcement and implementation related to the new cannabis-related businesses that will be coming to the community. Revenue from retail cannabis is also dedicated to build, operate and maintain the highest priorities in the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan, which was adopted by City Council on January 6, 2021. A summary of the plan, as well as the full plan, can be found on the Parks Recreation Open Space Master Plan webpage. 

The PROS plan, driven by community engagement, lays out over $157 million in projects and priorities for the next 8 to 10 years. Since this new revenue stream will take many months to establish, funds for the PROS projects will not be available for several months. The City will follow the regular budgetary process for considering capital projects city-wide, including parks and recreation. Priorities in the PROS plan will be folded into the 2022 budgeting process, as well as subsequent annual budgets, and the new funding source will enable deeper and more rapid progress towards those priorities.