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Cedaredge and Hotchkiss CO to Consider New Marijuana Regulations

By
Real Estate Agent with Cedaredge Land Company

Cedaredge and Hotchkiss CO to Consider New Marijuana Regulations

Law enforcement, state, county and city officials are forced to consider changing existing laws, and implementing new regulations, now that marijuana is the new buzz word in Colorado.

Cedaredge and Hotchkiss CO to Consider New Marijuana RegulationsThe small mountain towns of Cedaredge and Hotchkiss are following right along. Cedaredge's reaction is due to a situation that happened at a rental house in town. Public safety is the first concern of local town trustees and law enforcement. town trustees are discussing how best to regulate large-scale growing operations. Police Chief Dan Sanders says that large quantities of pot can't be banned because of a loophole in state's marijuana law. Several other communities in the state have already put forth new laws to regulate pot growing and the Cedaredge trustees are looking into what the other communities are doing to get ideas on what might work best for Cedaredge

Hotchkiss is facing the same dilemma. The town trustees have already held a work session on this issue. The trustees want an ordinance that limits the amount, where and how marijuana can be grown on private property. There have been several break ins in the area where marijuana was the target. Town officials are concerned about growing operations inside a building because of the danger of fire and mold. They are looking at a restriction that would include a setback off the property line, so someone couldn't reach inside a fence and pick the plants. The proposed ordinance would include a five foot setback, six foot privacy fence, the state's definition of an enclosed area, the area must be locked and there is to be no CO2 or butane  to be used to create hash oil. 

Commercial growing and selling is banned in Delta County. Both Cedaredge and Hotchkiss are looking at ways to regulate personal and medical growing within their communities. The state's legalization of marijuana is forcing a lot of small communities to take action in response to new issues that do come up with the growing of marijuana. 

Colorado state and local law enforcement officials are still trying to figure out how to deal with different situations concerning marijuania use and growing pot. There is still a lot of defining and refining of the laws that needs to happen. 

I've included some links to other posts I've written on this topic. 

Here's an overview of Colorado's Marijuana Law.

Legalized Marijuana and Landlord Tenant Relationships

If you Drive High you will get a DUID in Colorado

Some Growers Have to Ruin it for Everyone

Colorado Crime Rates Drop while Pot Sales Soar

 

I've lived on Colorado's Western Slope for over 24 years. I love this area and all it has to offer, and I enjoy sharing what I know about my home. As a REALTOR®, I also love to share my expertise in this area as well. If you need any real estate information for Montrose County, or Delta County, Colorado...please give me a call.

Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

In some ways it has, Kathleen, but crime rates are also down in Denver since the new laws went into place. 

Aug 03, 2014 04:13 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I just hope a small percentage of users and growers don't give everyone a bad name, John. Some people have really taken advantage. That's the story I reference in the first paragraph. 

Aug 03, 2014 04:14 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Debbie - There's a lot of weirdness in our current laws. It's legal to grow 12 plants, according to state law. And it's legal to possess 1 oz. of weed. So after you grow your 12 plants, what can you do with the non-legal 23.9 lbs of weed you now have? Can't sell it to the dispensaries, but you can be real popular and give it to your friends (if you don't care about potential liability issues and have lots of friends). Eventually, we'll get there.

Aug 03, 2014 04:25 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Debbie ....I agree with Kathleen ....It will only get worse .....very nice post!

Aug 03, 2014 06:06 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I guess Colorado is  the pioneer state in these changes. I am sure there is a lot to be learned Debbie.

Aug 03, 2014 06:13 AM
Don Sabinske
Don Sabinske, Sabinske & Associates Inc. - Zimmerman, MN
Sabinske & Associates Inc.

I agree with Dick.  This is a conundrum of pretty big proportions.  And, since I haven't used it, I can't comment much on whether I am pro or con.

Aug 03, 2014 06:55 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I agree, Dick. We have some growing pains (so to speak) to get through.

Time will tell, Rob.

We do have to go through this adjustment period, Noah. I think it will probably turn out ok, and in five years, everybody will say...what was the big deal.

I think that soon it will really quiet down. It's being regulated just like alcohol is being regulated, and that just makes good sense, Don.

 

Aug 03, 2014 06:58 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

I know that there will always be an "adjustment period".  Just like anything else, some people get a little nuts when something that was illegal now becomes less illegal or legal.  I hope ( I was going to say know, but that would be presumptous) that it will all work out for the best for everyone!

Aug 03, 2014 07:22 AM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Debbie, "growing pains" - pun intended.  I'm sure all the hoopla will wear down once the newness wears off.  

Aug 03, 2014 08:27 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Debbie, I find it rather ironic that I spend part of my Navy time patrolling the Caribbean on drug interdiction operations and now the stuff is perfectly legal in some states.  Who'd of thunk it??  Bill

Aug 03, 2014 09:32 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

You are so right, Suzanne. 

Hi, Juli. Nice pun. I'm smiling. 

I understand, Bill. It doesn't really make sense. But now with all the efforts put forth by many states to leglize marijuana...maybe we finally have an industry we won't be moving out of this country to other countries. 

Aug 03, 2014 09:35 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Well, perhaps other states will learn from Colorado, as eventually most states will legalize mj.

Aug 03, 2014 12:32 PM
Marshall Enterprises
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Antiques, Lawn Care, and Trashouts

These things straighten themselves out eventually, but you have to expect growing pains...couldn't help myself there!

Aug 03, 2014 02:56 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Debbie. Colorado has done lots of things right and the rest of the country is using  your state as the model. I'm state and each town is figuring it out.

Make it a great week!

Aug 03, 2014 08:04 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

There are so many variables that were over looked, many states are watching and waiting to see what happens. Over the weekend i saw a growhouse on a main road in a local town. How no one else saw it is beyond me but some dead give aways. My BPO's are all completed and ready for what this week brings, Im reaching out for some new REO assignments now,. 

Aug 03, 2014 11:23 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

You should be able to write a continuous series on this very interesting topic. The whole country is watching.

Aug 04, 2014 06:06 AM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Debbie, I'm sure there's a lot to consider when changing these long standing laws, but it is only a matter of time.  I remember reading your "Rental Property" post and it's for those reasons that communities are taking their time hopefully to pass sensible laws.

Aug 04, 2014 08:29 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Debbie,I can see that this could be a terrible problem for landlords. My daughter had a rental house and the tenant was growing in the house. The police secured the house and they were out rental income. The ripple effect was in place.

Aug 04, 2014 12:51 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

I agree with Roy. There isn't enough information and all eyes are on Colorado now. Let's hope CO gets it right.

Aug 05, 2014 06:01 AM
Anonymous
TJC

My Company is trying to set up our Cultivation and manufacturing warehouses in Delta County. Every where around us is good but not the town I was born and raised in , Delta. My Company has $5 million to start and would love to bring it to my home town...

Jan 17, 2017 06:52 AM
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