Officials in Denver will begin to construct a regulatory framework for public marijuana consumption Wednesday as they become the first city in the U.S. to allow the practice.
Voters in the city voted on a ballot measure Election Day legalizing marijuana for social use. The law will let businesses, ranging from cafes to yoga studios, to get a permit to create “consumption areas” for smoking marijuana. The law still requires that a business group or local neighborhood sign off on the location before a permit is granted, reports WYFF.
It also bans smoking marijuana indoors and for any patrons under the age of 21. Colorado’s Liquor Control Board is barring anyone with a liquor license from applying for a marijuana smoking permit. Aside from the broad structure, the ballot did not include specifics for implementing public legalization.
A diverse group of community leaders in the city are gathering Wednesday to begin ironing out the specifics of the law. Local business owners, regulators and opponents of the law will all give input on how to establish the new legal framework. The ballot did not set forth a deadline for implementation.
Many of the businesses expected to angle for licenses are cafes, but the demand for a smoking area at yoga studios is also relatively strong. Even art galleries are reportedly interested in securing a permit.
“This is a victory for cannabis consumers who, like alcohol consumers, simply want the option to enjoy cannabis in social settings,” Kayvan Khalatbari, co-owner of Denver Relief Consulting, told The Denver Post in November. “It is also a victory for the city of Denver, its diverse neighborhoods and those who don’t consume cannabis, as it will reduce the likelihood that adults will resort to consuming in public.”
Critics of the ballot fear it will further promote smoking marijuana in public, which is illegal throughout the state of Colorado. Advocates counter that a greater array of private smoking areas will limit public use and overall help the public health.
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