Canon City Planning Commission wants to open up downtown to retail pot

Retail recreational marijuana has become mainstream in Colorado, now the Canon City Planning Commission believes it should be allowed to be sold on Main Street.

“There are shuttered storefronts along Main Street,” said Commissioner Angela Bellantoni. “We need economic development. That’s our business district and we need it in our business district.”

Commissioners like Bellantoni spoke out against confining retail recreational marijuana to outlying industrial and commercial zoning areas and away from the central business district.

Bellantoni says a retail recreational marijuana store downtown would help bring more foot traffic.

“Feet on the street are good because maybe they’ll go next door and buy a gelato,” Bellantoni said.

Downtown is where “ganjapreneur” Edward Perrotta would like to open the city’s first retail recreational marijuana shop.

“It’s where all the tourism is and it’s the first stop for most people who come down Highway 50,” Perrotta said.

With a nearly unanimous vote, one commissioner abstained; the Commission recommended the City Council consider allowing retail recreational marijuana sales in the Central Business District. The Council will meet to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation next month.

The City Council has a moratorium in place on recreational retail marijuana sales in the city until April 1 st .