Coffee Joint To Become Denver's First Pot Club

DENVER, CO — After voters approved stand-alone public marijuana clubs by 54 percent in 2016, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses finally signed off Monday on the first legal pot club within Denver's borders.

Owners of the Coffee Joint, which is affiliated with a dispensary next door, will have the first cannabis consumption establishment license, but a spa and other businesses plan to follow, the Denver Post reported. The shop plans to charge an entry fee to the bring-your-own marijuana space. Customers won't be able to smoke, but the business will allow vaping or edible marijuana products.

It's not clear when customers can start consuming marijuana products at the business. City officials say inspectors from several departments have to visit the business and sign off before the license is formally issued. The shop was approved by the La Alma-Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association.

Colorado law doesn't address pot clubs. In some cities, they are tolerated, while others operate secretly.

One motivation has been to support marijuana tourism, since pot is not allowed to be smoked publicly in Denver.

The city began taking applications in August, but businesses had to complete an extensive application and adhere to strict limits on location.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Correction: This story has been updated to show the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses was the official body that signed off on the cannabis consumption license.

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