When it comes to recreational marijuana, Cortez residents can now buy local and legal.

The Cortez City Council Tuesday night approved the first marijuana retailer, the Herbal Alternative, to sell and cultivate the product for recreational shoppers in Cortez. Herbal Alternative opened for recreational sales at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Two retailers approved

A second applicant, The Beacon, was also given conditional approval to sell recreational marijuana, pending a final building inspection. As of Monday, Jan. 27, the renovations, required to retrofit the Beacon’s interior to meet state recreational shop guidelines, were not fully completed, according to city building official Sam Proffer.

Proffer noted that the renovations required of The Beacon were “more robust” but was told by ownership prior to Tuesday’s city council meeting the remaining work was completed.

Beacon owner Paul Coffey explained to the council that the remainder of work that needed to be done was extremely minimal, and the shop would be ready for another inspection at the city’s earliest convenience.

City manager Shane Hale suggested that the council approve the permit with conditions that the retail permit can’t be granted until a final inspection and certificate of occupancy are granted.

“There’s no reason to make them wait two weeks if it’s done,” said Hale.

The council, department heads, the police chief, nor attending citizens had any objections to both retail permit approvals.

Following the vote, Herbal Alternative owner Garrett Smith expressed relief and gratitude to the city officials for finally moving on final piece of a long and complicated puzzle for recreational shop hopefuls. The Herbal Alternative is at 1531 Lebanon Road in Cortez. The Beacon is at 1740 E. Main St. No. 2 in Cortez.

“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I’m excited, and looking forward to getting going, and for the tax revenue to start flowing in to the city and schools.”

Historic day

Shortly after the doors to Herbal Alternative opened up for business on Jan. 28, the first recreational marijuana shopper casually walked in and asked the question that has been on the minds of many: “Are you guys open for retail?”

The customer, who identified himself only as Gary, was looking for something to replace an over-the-counter sleep aid. His transaction was historic for the city being the first recreational marijuana transaction in history, but it was personal first for Gary as well.

“It’s my first time in any store, I don’t have a medical card,” he said. Manager David Pozzi helped Gary track down just a light enough dose of an edible to serve as a sleep aid substitute, and decided on two infused chocolate bars.

“That’ll be $10 cash or check for fully legal Colorado recreational bud,” Pozzi proudly said, shaking Gary’s hand.

Owner Garrett Smith said the shop’s staff was incredibly excited to start selling recreational, and has been fielding calls from curious shoppers for weeks.

Because the retail side of the business couldn’t have inventory until the permit was finalized by the City, the selection isn’t as robust as the medical side just yet.

“We only have four flowers over here now but plan to have somewhere around eight and 10 in-shelf,” said Smith. The indica and sativa strains include Durban Poison, Bruce Banner, Sweet Island Nelson, and Kryptonite. The store also carries edibles, lotions, vaporizers and pens, joints, hash and has a small selection of glassware.

The Herbal Alternative also grows all of its flowers 100 percent organically, in-house at their newly expanded 5,000 square foot grow facility connected to the storefront.

“The new part is just over 5,000 square feet and we’re already close to filling that space,” said Smith.

He says the company is likely to do some additional expansions this summer.

In September, the city council repealed its moratorium on recreational marijuana sales, allowing local marijuana dispensary owners to apply for retail business permits.

Retail marijuana sales to adults 21 over have been legal in Colorado since Jan. 1, 2014. Cortez is now among some 40 other municipalities to permit retail marijuana establishments.