Grand Junction, Colorado, hadn’t allowed marijuana stores to move into the area for many years, in spite of legal recreational pot in the state. However, the city recently changed its mind on this fact and will now allow some businesses into the region. How will this affect Grand Junction? Is it a good or bad thing? Let’s take a deeper look at this subject to learn more.
The Big Change for Grand Junction
Grand Junction, which had resisted legal cannabis stores for many years, finally decided to approve 10 shops within its borders on March 30. These stores were granted retail licenses to operate within the city, and, as of September 1, five stores were approved by Colorado’s state licensing, while others were looking to get going through this process as soon as possible.
Grand Junction wasn’t the only city that held off on approving these businesses in their borders. In fact, there are towns that resist legal cannabis in states where even recreational use has been approved. Typically, this denial is due to concerned citizens or city council members who fear the major changes it could bring to a community. For many years, Grand Junction was in the same boat.
This surprising reversal in policy was primarily motivated by the city’s desire to bring more money into the region. After researching the different cities and shops throughout the state that allow cannabis, Grand Junction’s city officials decided it was a wise move to open up to this industry. In fact, it’s likely to bring a lot of money into the area rather quickly.
How This Could Bring in Money
While it’s true that the average price of cannabis throughout Colorado has dropped dramatically since its legalization, that’s mostly due to an ever-increasing supply meeting a very large demand. In other words, more stores have opened up and have created higher competition and lower costs. That said, there’s still a strong market that could help Grand Junction make good money.
Just as importantly, the city itself can take much of these profits and bring in even more income. That’s critical in a state that’s struggling with its infrastructure and other issues. Grand Junction itself has had some concerns with various aspects of its city in recent years, which a steady supply of taxable income from an in-demand source like cannabis could help manage.
That said, it’s fair to say that there are those who are not trumpeting these new businesses as a good thing. After all, there was a reason that city officials hadn’t approved cannabis facilities before, and there are several issues that keep getting raised at city hall meetings. Understanding these problems helps to provide more context to the unique nature of this in-depth debate.
Potential Concerns
While many in the city are celebrating this change and believing it could lead to a heavy increase in taxable income, some Grand Junction residents are worried about things like:
- Higher Crime Rates: Though there is some mixed information about increasing crime rates in states with legal pot, it’s a concern many in Grand Junction raise.
- Younger Potential Users: The danger of potentially younger pot users is concerning to many in Grand Junction, though parents who carefully luck up their supply can reduce this risk.
- Increased Accident Rates: Some residents of Grand Junction are afraid of an increase in car accidents connected to increased pot sales, a fear that some say is legitimate.
When it comes to car accidents or injuries, it’s important to know that driving while impaired on marijuana is still illegal. If you do get hurt in this way (or your property), you can talk with a Grand Junction car accident attorney to learn more about your protection. After all, just because a substance is available and legal to use doesn’t make it right to hurt others while taking it. That’s called negligence ladies and gentlemen.
A Complex Subject
This change in law is something that Grand Junction residents will have to carefully address going forward. It’s clear that there’s a real potential for strong economic and tax benefits in the area, though the concerns about potential legal problems can’t be ignored. As a result, it’s critical to pay attention to any more changes and to watch the news to ensure you understand.
