Police Cite 7 Denver Pot Shop Employees For Underage Sales

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Police say seven employees of Denver retail marijuana stores face misdemeanor charges for selling pot to people younger than the legal purchasing age of 21.

Police said Wednesday that investigators checked 30 stores within the city and cited seven people. Penalties can include fines, and businesses could see their licenses suspended or revoked.

Lewis Koski, director of the state's Marijuana Enforcement Division, says he is disappointed because the high rate of compliance with the law had been a bright spot for the pot industry. Earlier investigations turned up no violations.

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"We are disappointed," Koski said in a statement. "Up until now these compliance checks have been a bright spot for the industry … even though there have not been any repeat violations at the same licensed premises, this represents a downward trend in compliance that is concerning."

He says 92 percent of stores remain in compliance, but the violations are troubling.

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