Colorado’s newest pot shop tied to strip club

Colorado’s newest pot shop has some wondering whether strippers and weed are too closely aligned on a busy highway just east of downtown Denver.

The Smokin Gun Apothecary opened on a site formerly occupied by the Denver area’s best known strip club, Shotgun Willie’s. The strip club hasn’t gone away – it’s moved just across the parking lot, testing ethical and potentially legal issues about the state’s growing legal recreational pot industry.

Beyond banning the sale of pot and alcohol in the same shop, Colorado has no regulation regarding marijuana and other adult businesses. Colorado’s rules about using pot are hazier. The state bans public marijuana consumption, but allows local governments to decide whether to allow private pot clubs.

Smokin’ Gun is preparing a rooftop lounge area in anticipation of a local ordinance to allow shoppers to toke up.