At least two of Longmont’s marijuana businesses oppose the delivery of recreational marijuana, citing concerns over driver safety and economic feasibility.
The two businesses — The Green Solution and Medicine Man — were responding to a Longmont city staff request to get their opinions on home delivery of pot, which can begin Jan. 1, if local jurisdictions allow it.
Longmont City Council will consider home delivery of marijuana at Tuesday night’s work session. No formal vote is expected.
Sally Vander Veer, CEO of Medicine Man, told the city that delivery of marijuana would be more convenient for many customers. Her list of cons is lengthy, however.
“This is not a high-wage job and the risks of being robbed (or worse) would seem high,” Vander Veer said.
There also would be problems with verifying the age of customers, sales tax collection and the expense of delivery, she said.
Delivery of marijuana also could cause more crime, Vander Veer said.
“I feel that the police department would have a difficult time knowing when a delivery was legitimate without approaching the delivery person and/or customer,” Vander Veer said. “This would open the doors wide open for drug dealers to visit their customers posing as delivery service.”
There are currently four city-licensed marijuana dispensaries: The Green Solution, 206 S. Main St.; Medicine Man Longmont, 500 E. Rogers Road; Terrapin Care Station, 650 20th Ave., and Twin Peaks Dispensary, 900 S. Hover St., Unit A.
Twin Peak Dispensary also is licensed for medical marijuana sale.
The state rules for medical marijuana delivery are “robust and staff recommends keeping local code fairly simple for this reason,” according to a city staff report to council.
The proposed city legislation would keep the hours of delivery consistent with the city’s hours of service for marijuana storefronts, according to the report.
Kristen Thomson, of TGS Global, wrote to the council on behalf of The Green Solution. Thomson said her greatest concern is marijuna delivery in Longmont could erode the “store-front model.”
Thomson also does not want the city to allow delivery of marijuana from outside the city.
“Our business invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to be granted the privilege of serving the residents of Longmont in a sustainable way,” Thomson said. “We believe that businesses who have not made the same investment in Longmont should not be allowed to take advantage of the consumer base of each of our businesses. This commitment has taken time, money, and sweat equity in the community to uphold.”
