Beer, Marijuana On Lawmakers' To-Do List
DENVER (AP) — The Latest on the Colorado legislature's last day Wednesday.
12:15 p.m.
Soon, U.S. adult citizens who live outside Colorado can invest in and be part-owners of the state's medical and recreational marijuana businesses.
The Senate unanimously passed a bill that allows non-Coloradans to invest in pot shops starting in 2017. At least one controlling owner or investor must reside in the state.
Sponsors say more investment is needed to expand retail pot businesses.
Current law restricts investors and owners to people who have lived in Colorado at least two years.
Wednesday's Senate vote sends the bill to the governor's desk.
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12:05 p.m.
Colorado's unusual ban on full-strength beer in grocery stores is one step away from heading to the governor.
The House voted 57-7 in favor of a bill to allow grocery stores to carry full-strength beer, wine and liquor by 2037. Until then, the grocers would slowly be granted more liquor licenses, though in many cases they'll have to buy liquor licenses from existing liquor stores.
Lawmakers describe the bill as a way to update Colorado's antiquated beer restrictions, while still protecting the state's thousands of small liquor stores.
Senators must agree to small changes, then the measure heads to the governor's desk. Gov. John Hickenlooper is expected to sign the change into law.
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11:10 a.m.
The Senate is getting a late start on the last day of the session.
It's considering late House amendments to Senate bills on recording court-ordered mental health evaluations, out-of-state marijuana business investment and sentencing options for juvenile offenders.
The House, too, got a late start, with beer sales by large retailers at the top of its agenda.
The 120th day of the 2016 legislative session ends at midnight Wednesday.
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Gas and grass are some of the remaining to-do items waiting for Colorado lawmakers when they meet Wednesday for the last time this year.
They've also got to agree on a bill allowing full-strength beer in more grocery stores.
Colorado's Democratic House and Republican Senate are close to agreement on one of the priciest bills of the year — setting aside some $115 million for oil and gas producers who were wrongly overcharged for certain taxes.
The beer and pot beer bills are a little trickier.
Swirling around the Legislature is the outcome of a bill to allow more grocery stores to sell full-strength beer.
The marijuana bill would allow out-of-state investors to join the state's marijuana industry. The proposal has passed both chambers, but in slightly different forms.
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