Nederland Could Become First To Officially Regulate Marijuana Use

NEDERLAND, Colo. (CBS4) - Nederland, the quiet, self-proclaimed hippie town of 1,500, could soon have an ordinance in place making it the first town in America to regulate marijuana.

"The ordinance will regulate marijuana establishments in a fashion similar to alcohol and there's different licenses proposed in the constitution," Rico Colibri said.

Colibri, a proud pot smoker, just moved to the mountain town in January. After Amendment 64 passed he hopes to see Nederland looking a bit more like the Netherlands.

"It's a bit of a slogan and we were trying to encapsulate the concept of social use," Colibri said.

Under his ordinance plan, retail marijuana sales in Nederland would be allowed for those of age.

Nederland Mayor Joe Gierlach laughed at Colibri's pot regulation ordinance proposal. The town board is still trying to determine how to regulate recreational marijuana use.

"We're having a town meeting with our board of trustees, and it's scheduled on Feb. 26," Gierlach said. "We're going to decide what we're going to do as far as the process goes."

Colibri's proposed ordinance just needs 90 signatures, but he's hoping to get 420. It would then either be accepted by the town or put on the next ballot to be voted on by Nederland residents.

With a town the size of Nederland, Colibri doesn't think getting the number of signatures needed will be difficult. Even the mayor agrees.

"It's just a part of our culture," Gierlach said.

He just wants the entire town to come together and work on a recreational use ordinance that everyone agrees on.

Colibri plans to circulate his proposal around town. If adopted, he believes it will also boost tourism.