Experience with Cannabis - Without the Smoke 2018 OMAA FALL WORKSHOP OCTOBER 25, 2018
City of Wheat Ridge, CO - Pop 31,344-10 sq. miles - $36M Operating Budget - $76M Total Budget - 83 sworn police officers
Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado 2000 to 2018 2000 Amendment 20 to Colorado Constitution approved the use of medical MJ 2009 US Attorney General issued statement the Federal Gov t would not prosecute individuals using medical MJ 2009 City adopted an emergency moratorium on medical MJ business applications (extended through 2010) 2010 State enacted legislation for medical MJ dispensaries 2011 City adopted regulations pertaining to medical MJ establishments
Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado 2000 to 2018 2012 Amendment 64 to Colorado Constitution approved the personal use and regulation of recreational MJ 2013 City adopted an emergency moratorium on all MJ business applications 2013 City adopted regulations pertaining to recreational MJ establishments 2014 City adopted a temporary moratorium on the processing of all applications for new MJ establishments 2015 City amended regulations adopted in 2013 under pressure from citizens
1,021 stores 428 stores
Current Wheat Ridge Regulations Only five (5) MJ centers/stores and three (3) MJ infused products manufactures (MIPs) are allowed in the City at one time MJ centers/stores allowed only in the Commercial-One and Industrial Employment zone districts; MIPs only allowed in Industrial Employment Prohibited within 1,000 feet of a school, an alcohol or drug treatment facility, a residential child care facility, an improved city park or the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center Prohibited within ¾ of a mile of another marijuana center/store and ¼ of a mile for MIPs
Current Wheat Ridge Regulations Cultivation activities are limited to 5,000 sq. ft. must be colocated Hours of operation limited to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Signage content shall not specifically target individuals under the age of 21; shall not include images that depicts the leaf of a MJ plant or shall not contain a green cross image in excess of 2 x 2 Private MJ social clubs are not allowed Proper ventilation required to reduce MJ odor
State Marijuana Revenues
Wheat Ridge Marijuana Revenues Sales & Use Tax Medical License Fees Retail Operating and Excise Tax Total $0 $200,000 $400,000 $600,000 $800,000 2015 2016 2017
Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana In 2017, 12 drivers were arrested for marijuana-related DUI 10% of all DUI arrests in 2017 9% increase from 2016 1 property damage accident 2 injury accidents Accounting for 2% of all injury accidents 8 Marijuana-Related DUI Arrests 11 9 6 4 12 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Drugs & Alcohol in Schools 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Drug-Related Arrests Drug-Related Charges 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 100% of the charges were marijuana-related
Drugs & Alcohol in Schools 100% of the charges were marijuana-related School Year Everitt Middle School Kullerstrand Elementary Sobesky Academy Stevens Elementary Wilmore Davis Elementary Wheat Ridge Senior High School Total Charges Average* 10.0 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.0 50.4 61.2 2016-2017 6 0 2 0 0 29 37 2017-2018 7 0 2 0 1 26 36 Activity Level Normal Normal Normal Normal Extremely High Moderately Low Moderately Low
Marijuana Home Grows In 2017, there were a number of tips regarding illegal home grows; however, all parties came into compliance. Due to compliance, no MJ was seized and no arrests were made Past years: 2016 2 2015 2 2014 0 2013 2
Calls for Service (CFS) at Marijuana Facilities in 2017 68 CFS at dispensaries; increase of 10% from 2016 33% were for alarms (1.6% of all alarm calls in the city) Boulder Organic Food Group, 3, 4% Chronic Therapy, 13, 19% The Ridge, 8, 12% Medical MJ Supply/Solace Meds, 10, 15% 31% were for suspicious activity (0.5% of all suspicious activity calls in the city) Options Medical Center, 13, 19% Best Colorado Meds, 21, 31%
CFS at Marijuana Facilities In 2017, the dispensaries had 5 burglaries (2% of all burglary calls in the city) 3 disturbances (0.1% of all disturbance calls in the city) 4 theft (0.4% of all theft calls in the city)
Top Concerns in Ontario Public Safety By-law Enforcement Financial Impact Zoning Public Health
Outstanding MJ Implications/Lessons Learned The development of standards and technology to measure THC/MJ for purposes of impaired driving Obligations of law enforcement when they seize MJ Is the smell of MJ enough probable cause to search a car or house? When does private consumption become public and therefore unlawful? Finding a balance between private use of MJ in homes and the need to protect the public
Outstanding MJ Implications/Lessons Learned Can police officers smoke MJ? More robust public process to hear from the community Thoroughly consider separation restrictions from sensitive land uses Cannot anticipate the imagination of every entrepreneur remain nimble and flexible
Patrick Goff City Manager PGOFF@CI.WHEATRIDGE.CO.US WWW.CI.WHEATRIDGE.CO.US 303-235-2805