Your Input Valued about Medical Marijuana Center in Bailey

Local_Historian wrote: So, is this grow house associated with the dispensary near the laundromat, or is this a new group? If it is a new group, are they intending to sell there or just grow there and dispense elsewhere?

Have they considered the level of security they might need - I've heard there's been a rash of break ins at grow houses in the Denver area.

My question mainly - can the area support two dispensaries? I'm amazed at the number that I saw in Alma, but then they are near Breckenridge. We're not near a ski area and there's at least 3 dispensaries along the upper part of 285 between Morrison and Pine Junction.

So the owner of Sunrise Solutions gave a short presentation and answered questions at the Platte Canyon Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday morning. He is moving his facility, so there will not be two dispensaries because he will close his current one once moved.

The only reason he is moving is because the place he rented as a growing facility had some tax issues and was sold without an offer even made to him so he was quite abruptly and unexpectedly out of a location to grow his supplies. He looked at a dozen properties around the area and every one of them had a problem that excluded him from being able to rent/purchase/operate there except for the former Bailey Garden Center.

He was asked about crime at his current location. He has every bit of security that he can have installed and operating on his premises and not once has he ever had a peep from anything. His clients are mostly older (45+, he said he only has 5 clients under the age of 24), they are all licensed to receive medical marijuana from doctors, and many are trying to kick habits with prescribed painkillers like oxycontin. He strictly adheres to being unobtrusive and has no desire to make anyone upset, uncomfortable, or to be a negative on the community, he just wants to operate a successful business and serve people in need. He intends to install all the same security, and to build a privacy fence both for security and to help appease neighbors.

The Planning Commission, as previously reported by the Flume , did approve his application. He now has to apply to Park County, and if approved there, to the State for approval - all just to move his facility. Then he has to apply to close his current facility and apply for building permits. He has strict regulations to follow about exhaust (smell was an issue for many people) so he will have two air conditioners, two furnaces, and a closed air system where they do not vent any inside air to the outside. He's more than willing to close during community events if that would make community leaders more comfortable, as he worries about someone purchasing his product, then using it and causing trouble because that comes back to him, same as an bar serving a drunk and them crashing and killing someone.

FYI, he only serves to those approved for medical marijuana. He said he can look down a street and point out recreational establishments that are making a ton more money than he is, and are where your trouble is.

The Platte Canyon Chamber members voted to not take a stand on the issue of him moving. There was one strong opinion to vote for taking a stand, and to vote No (because they thought this would turn Bailey into a pot destination and ruin the town), one opinion that they just didn't want him on Main St but otherwise had no problem with him, and several other opinions that it's already a legal business and been operating with no problems for 3 years now so rather than vote to take a stand and vote yes (in essence endorsing a marijuana establishment), the majority voted to not take a stand.

He is currently buying supplies to sell rather than growing his own, and facing costly improvements to make to the new facility while still renting the current one, so he's struggling but he plans to continue. That's it from my notes, I'm sure there will be a story in this week's Flume too if you'd like to learn more.