Boulder Wants To Delay New Pot Businesses

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- The City of Boulder is looking to delay opening new marijuana businesses even after voters approved Amendment 64 which legalizes recreational pot use.

The Boulder City Attorney's office is recommending a temporary ban on recreational pot stores.

The ban gives Boulder time to work out how to regulate the stores as Colorado determines how to reconcile the marijuana legalization with federal authorities who continue to maintain that marijuana use and possession is illegal.

Under Amendment 64, Boulder has until Oct. 1, 2013 to set licensing regulations.

If the Boulder City Council agrees, it is likely that pot shops will not open until January 2015.

A leader of a marijuana reform advocacy group said this isn't what voters wanted.

"I think it will show that they may be out of touch with the will of Boulder voters. Amendment 64 passed by a landslide in Boulder," said Sensible Colorado spokesman Brian Vicente.

The Boulder City Council plans to revisit the issue in January 2013.