City hall in Grand Junction had a meeting on April 24, going over the local dispensaries and there License renewal applications.
Story By: Geon Nielsen City Pulse
Photos By: Sofia Villareal & Breana Sinclair
Grand Junction is home to many different stories catering to people’s needs. From Kraton, Tobacco, alcohol, and now marijuana. With marijuana being legalized for recreational use in 2012 and stores opening in Colorado In 2014.
Grand Junction’s first Lucky Me dispensary opened on October 14, 2023, almost ten years after recreational marijuana use was legalized. After Licky Me opened, four more pot shops opened in October 2023: The Grand Junction Greenery, The Garage Dispensary, Native Roots, and Colorado Weedery.
Opening up a dispensary is a huge task, with the specific space you need, the employees, and security to run the shop. While also having to find the right product for your shop its alot. However, that only includes some of the licenses and paperwork you must fill out before opening the doors to the public.
The Mesa County Old Courthouse, located on 544 Rood Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Villareal, April 3 2024.
On April 24, 2024, there was a town hall meeting in Grand Junction about the license renewal for two dispensaries. Lucky Me and The Grand Junction Greenry had to renew their licenses to stay open for business. A process each dispensary has to go through every year; every pot shot has to renew their license to sell marijuana every year.
The first item on the meeting agenda was Grand Junction Greenery’s licensing renewal. Joel Cameron, one of the owners of GJ Greenery, stepped up in front of the courtroom. Stephanie Rubinstein, the hearing officer for this meeting, started the meeting by reviewing the case overview. The process of relativizing in the courtroom takes almost less than five minutes because the company coming in to renew its licenses has completed all the paperwork beforehand. Once Joel stepped up to the board, they began his renewal process.
Stephanie stated, “She saw nothing wrong with the paperwork and will proceed with the new renewal.” After looking at the crowd, she asked, ” Does anyone from the public have anything to say?”
After no one from the public said anything, the board carried on with Stephanie, Janet, and John, all agreeing to renew their licenses. The only thing that Joel had to do for Grand Junction Grennery was sign and send them the paperwork for the new license within the next 14 days after the meeting.
The Colorado Emblem was adopted in 1877 as an official seal by the first General Assembly. The emblem showcases various symbols that represent the Colorado state, such as snow-capped mountains and the three state colors. (B. Sinclair. 2024).
All the paperwork already done, the only things that happen in court are the Harding officer, the deputy city clerk, Janet Harrell, and the city attorney, Mr. John Shaver. They all take their seats and review the applications with the individuals who submitted them.
With one item off the agenda, the board moves on to the second item: Lucky Me Dispansart, which is also renewing its license to sell marijuana but wants to expand its store by adding a corporate suite G to its showroom. Nicholas Pinto, the manager of Lucky Me, came to the meeting to speak for Lucky Me while going over finances.
“Our sales tax got paid yesterday.” Nicholas assured the courtroom.
The Mesa County Old Courthouse, located on 544 Rood Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Villareal, April 3 2024.
After that, Stephanie once again said she had no problem renewing Luck Me’s license and asked the room if anyone from the public had anything to say. As no one said anything, the rest of the board deliberated and said there was no reason for Luck Me’s license not to be renewed.
One concern about Lucky Me expanding its location was that they needed paperwork from the landlord saying they could have the extra space. They will Need Lucky Me LLC to have paperwork saying they can rent the property. The modification will be approved as long as they have permission from the landlord to take the extra building. Lucky Me also has 14 days to fill out the license renewal paperwork along with the lease paperwork.
With everything on the agenda talked about and the license renewals given to The Grand Junction Greenery and Lucky Me. The meeting comes to a close and all that is left is for both companies to get the paper work done and emailed 14 days after the meeting took place so by May 8th. While Lucky Me also needs to get approval by their landlord to rent out Suite G.
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