Town officials plan to discuss local retail marijuana ventures tonight at their monthly meeting.
According to recent data, more than half of Colorado cities and towns have prohibited retail marijuana shops from opening inside their jurisdictions. An additional 15 percent of the state's municipalities have passed regulatory guidelines on recreational sales and less than 10 percent have imposed some form of moratorium.
"Colorado communities are in various stages of adopting local regulations to allow recreational marijuana sales, while others have taken a wait and see approach through the use of moratoriums," said Mancos town administrator Andrea Phillips. "Others have banned the sale of retail marijuana outright."
The Town of Mancos enacted a moratorium banning recreational marijuana sales that expires at the end of the year. The town approved its first medical marijuana dispensary in September.
According to Phillips, the town has four options to consider at today's 7 p.m. meeting. The choices include extending the current moratorium, banning recreational sales altogether, letting voters decide the matter in a special election or allowing retail marijuana businesses within town limits.
Phillips said if recreational marijuana shops were approved, officials would first be required to draft proper regulations and guidelines. The new ordinance would have to be sanctioned by both the planning and zoning commission and the board of trustees and be subject to public hearings.
In November 2012, 55 percent of Colorado citizens voted to approve Amendment 64, which lifted the prohibition on marijuana sale, cultivation, possession and consumption for recreational use. Mancos voters approved the measure by 59 percent. The law goes into effect Jan. 1.
Only current medical marijuana facilities, however, may apply for state licenses to grow and sell for recreational use. Newcomers to the market will not be able to acquire recreational licenses until October 2014.
"Although the town could begin receiving applications now, the earliest they could open would be Jan. 1," Phillips said. "However, it may take up to three months from now to finalize regulations and allow for public hearings."
Town officials are required to notify the state which route they intend to pursue.
Earlier this month, nearly two-thirds, 64 percent, of Montezuma County voters approved imposing a 25 percent tax on recreational marijuana sales.
The tax, a 15 percent wholesale excise and 10 percent sales tax, would pay for regulation and enforcement of the new law as well as fund school construction.