Medical Pot Shops Get Head Start In Colorado

DENVER (AP) — Medical pot shops will get a head start when Colorado opens recreational pot sales next year. And marijuana felons will be allowed to work in the industry after five years. That's according to a measure adopted Thursday in a state House committee.

Lawmakers will give current medical marijuana licensees a nine-month exclusive. The existing industry was lobbying for a much longer head start, but lawmakers rolled it back out of concerns they'd give medical shops an unfair advantage.

The committee was also voting on taxes up to 30 percent on recreational pot. The bills could see debate by the full House as soon as Friday.

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