Under the authority granted in § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. and the Charter of the City of Grand Junction this chapter is adopted by the City Council and prohibits certain business and land uses related to medical marijuana in the City and in furtherance of its stated intent, the City Council makes the following findings.
The Colorado Medical Marijuana Code, § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. authorizes a regulatory structure for the retail, sale, distribution, cultivation and dispensing of medical marijuana, marijuana infused products and optional premises cultivation. Through that regulatory structure the scope and authority of Amendment 20 to the Colorado Constitution is further defined.
The Colorado Medical Marijuana Code also specifically authorizes the governing body of a municipality to vote to prohibit the licensure and/or operation of medical marijuana centers, optional premises cultivation operations and medical marijuana infused products manufacturing within the municipality.
The Colorado Medical Marijuana Code also specifically authorizes a municipality to prohibit the operation of medical marijuana centers, optional premises cultivation operations and medical marijuana infused products manufacturers’ licenses based on local government zoning, health, safety and public welfare laws for the distribution of medical marijuana.
After due and careful consideration of the Colorado Medical Marijuana Code, Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution, the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. 811), the Colorado Uniform Controlled Substances Act (§ 18-18-101, C.R.S. et seq.) and the real and possible effects of cultivation and dispensing of marijuana and/or the manufacturing and sale of marijuana infused products, those businesses, operations and land uses have been found to adversely affect the health, safety and welfare of the City and its inhabitants.
Therefore it is and shall be upon passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter unlawful for any person to operate, cause to be operated or permit to be operated a medical marijuana center, an optional premises cultivation operation or a medical marijuana infused products manufacturing or sale facility, business or operation related thereto in the City and no City licenses shall issue for the same.
(Ord. 4437, 10-4-10)
All definitions provided in § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. are adopted herein unless specifically amended hereby.
“Marijuana”
shall have the same meaning as the term “usable form of marijuana” as set forth in Article XVIII, Section 14(1)(i) of the Colorado Constitution or as may be more fully defined in any applicable State law or regulation. “Marijuana” may alternatively be spelled “marihuana.”
“Medical marijuana”
means marijuana that is grown and sold pursuant to the provisions of § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. and for a purpose authorized by Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution.
“Medical marijuana center”
means any person licensed pursuant to §  44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. who sells marijuana in any form to registered patients or to a primary caregiver(s) as defined in Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution, except, however, a primary caregiver as defined herein shall not be considered a medical marijuana center.
“Medical marijuana infused product”
means any product infused with or containing marijuana that is intended for use or consumption other than by smoking, including edible products, ointments and tinctures.
“Medical marijuana infused product manufacturer”
means a person licensed pursuant to § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. to operate a business as described in § 44-11-404, C.R.S.
“Medical use”
shall have the same meaning as is set forth in Article XVIII, Section 14(1)(b) of the Colorado Constitution, or as may be more fully defined in any applicable State law or regulation.
“Optional premises cultivation operation”
means a person licensed pursuant to § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq. to grow and cultivate marijuana for a purpose authorized by Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution.
“Patient”
has the same meaning as set forth in Article XVIII, Section 14(1)(c) of the Colorado Constitution.
“Person”
shall mean a natural person, partnership, association, company, corporation, limited liability company or other organization or entity or a manager, agent, owner, officer or employee thereof.
“Possess or possession”
means having physical control of an object, or control of the premises in which an object is located, or having the power and intent to control an object, without regard to whether the one in possession has ownership of the object. Possession may be held by more than one person at a time. Use of the object is not required for possession.
“Primary caregiver”
has the meaning set forth in Article XVIII, Section 14(1)(f) of the Colorado Constitution and as the same may be clarified or construed by §  44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq.
“Produce or production”
means (i) all phases of growth of marijuana from seed to harvest, (ii) combining marijuana with any other substance for distribution, including storage and packaging for resale, or (iii) preparing, compounding, processing, encapsulating, packing or repackaging, labeling or re-labeling of marijuana or its derivatives whether alone or mixed with any amount of any other substance.
(Ord. 4437, 10-4-10)
This chapter shall apply to all property and persons within the City of Grand Junction.
It shall be unlawful and a violation under this chapter for a person to establish, operate, cause or permit to be operated, or continue to operate within the City and within any area annexed to the City after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, a medical marijuana center, a medical marijuana infused product manufacturing facility, an optional premises cultivation operation, or any business, facility or any other operation requiring a license under § 44-11-101, C.R.S. et seq.
The effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be January 1, 2011.
The moratorium on commercial medical marijuana centers and facilities imposed by Ordinance No. 4392 is hereby extended through December 31, 2010.
(Ord. 4437, 10-4-10)
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit, regulate or otherwise impair or be construed to prohibit, regulate or impair the cultivation, use or possession of medical marijuana by a patient and/or by a primary caregiver for his/her patients; provided, that such patient or primary caregiver is acting in accordance with all applicable provisions of Article XVIII, Section 14(1)(c) of the Colorado Constitution, § 44-1-101, C.R.S. et seq. as amended, §  25-1.5-106, C.R.S. as amended, the regulations promulgated by the State Department of Public Health and Environment, the Department of Revenue or any other agency with regulatory authority and the laws of the City.
(Ord. 4437, 10-4-10)
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor offense punishable in accordance with GJMC § 1.04.090. A person committing a violation shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during which the offense is committed or continued to be permitted by such person and shall be punished accordingly.
(Ord. 4437, 10-4-10)
This chapter is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City and covers matters of local concern or matters of mixed State and local concern as provided by § 44-11-101, C.R.S.
If any provision of this chapter is found to be unconstitutional or illegal, such finding shall only invalidate that part or portion found to violate the law. All other provisions shall be deemed severed or severable and shall continue in full force and effect.
(Ord. 4437, 10-4-10)