By Daniel Williams

Contrary to recent claims being made on social media platforms, the former Safeway location in the city of Castle Pines will NOT become a cannabis grow operation.

The Connection received several inquiries about the rumorings, so we reached out to city officials for further explanation of local marijuana laws and to clear up any confusion or misconceptions about what is and isn’t legal in the city.

“Amendment 64 legalized marijuana use in Colorado,” said spokesperson Kristen Knoll. “Even though 64 was a statewide amendment, it gave cities like Castle Pines the power and authority to make their own decisions on what’s best for their community.”

On June 13, 2013, the Castle Pines City Council determined that “the operation of marijuana establishments within the City would not be in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare of the City’s residential and business community” and council passed and adopted Ordinance No. 13-05 which prohibited marijuana establishments within the city. As defined in Amendment 64, those marijuana establishments include “marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, marijuana testing facilities and retail marijuana stores.”

“the operation of marijuana establishments within the city would not be in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare of the city’s residential and business community”

Additionally, “use of any land within the City as a marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana product manufacturing facility, marijuana testing facility or retail marijuana store is specifically an excluded and prohibited use in all zoning districts or on any land within the city.” According to Knoll, those laws remain intact.

Personal use

Personal use of marijuana in Castle Pines is a different matter. As previously reported in The Connection, people who are 21 years of age and older are allowed to smoke marijuana in their private residence, but are not allowed to smoke on their decks or in their yards, even if it’s on their own property. Marijuana use is also prohibited in county parks, while driving, or in city streets or public parking lots, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.

Knoll said one change made in 2017 concerns the cultivation or possession of marijuana plants in a residence. “Last year, the state reduced the number of marijuana plants allowed for an individual residence from 24 to 12,” Knoll said. As with Amendment 64, the state afforded municipalities the power to adopt or reject that change and, on November 14 of last year, the Castle Pines City Council passed Ordinance 17-07, limiting a residence to 12 marijuana plants. Medical marijuana patients and primary caregivers are allowed 30 plants in their primary residence.

To help reduce confusion over laws and other public matters, Knoll encouraged residents to utilize the city’s website at castlepinesgov.com.