Denver City Council Looks At Possible Pot Growing Loophole
DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver City Council Monday evening was scheduled to take a look at just how many marijuana plants can be grown in the city, and if there's a loophole that allows some people to have more plants than others.
That's also a question before the state health department because of the number of plants allowed for medical marijuana patients as opposed to the number for recreational use.
In 2013 the city set a limit on the number of plants that could be grown per household at 12, but because of a zoning oversight about 20 percent of homes in Denver have had no limit at all.
"Our inspection folks have struggled a bit as they are finding kind of out-of-control grows in homes that are zoned under the old code," Councilwoman Jeanne Robb said. "That's how it was brought to our attention."
Robb says restrictions on residential grows that were put into place in 2013 only applied to homes under Denver's new zoning code.
"A neighbor calls in and says, 'I think my neighbor is growing too much marijuana.' They go out and they check the zoning and they say, 'Well, he's growing a lot of marijuana, but it's not against the zoning code,' " Robb said.
According to the city's Planning and Deveopment Department, about 20 percent of residential households in Denver don't fall under the new zoning code, leaving them with no restrictions.
"I was concerned, as I say, because my motivation in supporting marijuana regulations in the city was to basically put it in the commercial areas and keep it out of the neighborhoods," Robb said.
Robb is now sponsoring an amendment to close the loophole, ensuring every home in Denver will have the same restrictions when it comes to growing their own marijuana. The amendment was expected to get final approval at Monday's city council meeting.
On Tuesday Denver will take steps to ban residents from making hash oil in their homes.
RELATED: Ordinance Would Ban Denverites From Making Hash Oil At Home
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