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City Council approves cannabis reform, extends dispensary hours

Hayden Hawley

September 22, 2021

Justice scale with cannabis leaf on one side and a gavel on the other — (Graphic Illustration by Trin Bonner | The Collegian)

Fort Collins City Council approved small changes to the local cannabis market at their regular meeting Sept. 21.

Beginning in January 2022, all dispensaries will legally be able to extend their hours until midnight, increased from 8 p.m.

Additionally, in a move that is no doubt a response to increasing calls for social equity in the cannabis industry, anyone who has previously been convicted of a felony can apply for a cannabis business license three years after the completion of their sentence. This will also go into effect in 2022.

Smaller changes were made as well — the City has changed its limits on the amount of medical cannabis any single patient can buy from two ounces of flower over one week to just one day.”

“In November 2017, voters approved an amendment to the voter-approved provisions of the City Code that allows council to adopt amendments to or add provisions … pertaining to medical marijuana licensing,” the agenda read by way of clarifying precedent. “The City sought the 2017 amendment in anticipation of the need for changes due to evolution of state law.”

Smaller changes were made as well — the City has changed its limits on the amount of medical cannabis any single patient can buy from two ounces of flower over one week to just one day. This change aligns Fort Collins with current Colorado state law.

Cannabis business licensing is now in the hands of Jill Hueser, Fort Collins’ chief judge. Restrictions on any dust or smoke emitting from any cannabis business have been tightened.

Hayden Hawley can be reached at cannabis@collegian.com or on Twitter @hateonhawley.

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About the Contributors

Hayden Hawley, Cannabis Director

Hayden Hawley is the cannabis director for The Rocky Mountain Collegian. He is a fourth-year journalism major from El Cajon, California. He is also minoring in film studies and history. This is his first year working with The Collegian. Hawley hopes that through the cannabis section he can help remove the taboo surrounding the cannabis industry and promote safe and informed cannabis use throughout the Colorado State University campus. He strives to provide honest and unbiased content that reports both on the joys of cannabis as well as its ever-growing social and environmental impacts. In his spare time, Hawley can be found doom-scrolling Twitter or watching A24 movies. His favorite way to enjoy cannabis is a bowl of freshly ground indica in a pipe or joint accompanied by a cold LaCroix and a box of Cheez-Its (not sponsored). Hawley has been interested in writing for his entire life. He enjoys baseball and birdwatching with his girlfriend. Before entering CSU, he was involved in standup and improv comedy, and he now hopes to continue writing for whoever wants to pay him after college ends. His experience of directing a section for The Collegian thus far has been rewarding and gratifying.

Trin Bonner, Illustration Editor

Trin Bonner, The Collegian's illustration editor this year, is a second-year student studying graphic design and minoring in religious philosophy. She finds inspiration in unique ideas and perspectives and is intrigued and driven by themes of the unknown and the existential. As an artist, she seeks to create works that spark humor and joy in her audience, and she sees it important to utilize her art as a means to make people laugh and smile, inspiring her to create comics and illustrations for anyone to enjoy. When she's not busy drawing, she enjoys playing and listening to music. To Bonner, music carries a sense of happiness, peace and tranquility she values having in her daily life. In the future, she hopes to create her own music that can be a source of peace, tranquility and happiness to someone else. Overall, she feels it is important to spread as much positive energy in the world as she can. Studying philosophy has guided her to value the good in life, and with the importance of that in mind, she goes through life attempting to spark a bit of positivity wherever she can. As illustration editor, Bonner hopes to direct the illustrations found in The Collegian toward having a sense of joy the readers can experience.

This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name The Rocky Mountain Collegian pursuant to a license granted by CSU. Approximately 59% of Rocky Mountain Student Media Corp’s income is provided by the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU) for the purpose of fostering student careers post-college and greater campus awareness and engagement.

Go to www.rockymountainstudentmedia.com for more information. Rocky Mountain Student Media is a registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 26-2998141

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