DENVER CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 36-PLANT LIMIT ON UNREGULATED POT GROWS

BY THOMAS MITCHELL - WESTWORD

The Denver City Council approved a plant limitation on non-licensed marijuana grows Monday night that could force many cultivating operations within city limits to shut down.

A 36-plant limit in non-residential zone lots was approved 11-0 — meaning any recreational co-op or medical marijuana caregiver over the mark will have to either shut down or scale back. The measure, which was introduced to the Denver Department of Safety and Well-Being on March 4, didn't take long to pass through the ranks of the city's local government thanks to concern over safety issues and illegal sales stemming from non-licensed growing warehouses.

The Denver Fire Department and its head of marijuana policy, Ashley Kilroy, claim some of the unlicensed growing operations they've come across have multiple zoning hazards — including blocked exits, faulty electricity and mold exposure. Non-licensed growing warehouses aren't required to register with the state, so any safety inspections only occur if someone alerts the city or the growers ask for one themselves.

Here's part of the city's reasoning, as seen in an excerpt from the bill:

...This gap in regulation has resulted in a proliferation of large-scale, non-licensed and unregulated marijuana grow operations that present significant health and public safety concerns with multiple and persistent violations of city building, electrical, fire, and environmental safety regulations; and whereas, the marijuana produced by these large-scale, unregulated cultivation operations cannot be tracked, making it virtually impossible to verify that this marijuana is distributed in accordance with all applicable laws.

These safety issues, coupled with the retail pot industry's call for action against black-market sales, have caused an increase in local legislation medical marijuana advocates say is aimed at squeezing out the caregiver system Colorado's pot industry was founded on. Because no more than 36 plants can now be grown per each 3,000 square foot lot, caregivers with multiple patients and extended plant counts may either have to leave town or risk losing their patients.

Many medical marijuana caregivers and their patients have been vocally against the new measure, as well as SB 15-014, a bill requiring all caregivers to register with the state. Christopher Weatherhogg, a Denver caregiver, voiced his displeasure in a letter sent to the City Council. It reads in part:

For the last five years I have poured time, money and energy into complying to the building codes and proper zone permitting that is necessary to get the Certificate of Occupancy for F1 Marijuana growing. My small caregiving operation services patients with high quality medicinal oils and other personal benefits that comply with the statutes under the Colorado Department of Health and Human Services. I would like to state that I do believe that Denver city regulations need to be strengthened so that there is more oversight over any safety or legal concerns. Unfortunately by limiting caregivers to 36 plants that would effectively crush the medicinal market.

You can read his full letter and two others from MMJ patients below.

The change also affects those in Denver taking advantage of the loophole in recreational plant counts. Although there is a twelve-plant limit in Denver residential grows (up to six for each adult), there previously were none for non-residential operations. If John Doe wanted to grow six plants for himself and six plants for each of hundreds of  "friends" 21-and-older, he could legally do so as long as no pot was sold and the lot wasn't residential.

Many local dispensary owners and cannabis cultivators view this approach as bleeding the regulated industry they've worked to legitimize. Although Amendment 64 was partly created in the hope of diminishing pot's black market, unregulated grows can potentially provide tax-free, untested cannabis products in direct competition with licensed retail businesses.

Now that Colorado's biggest hub for legal pot just drastically cut the amount of unregulated marijuana grown within its city limits, count this as a score for the industry and a loss for gray market dealers — though many innocent caregivers and patients may have been caught in the crossfire.

Follow the link to read the letters from caregivers and patients.

http://www.westword.com/news/denver-city-council-approves-36-plant-limit-on-unregulated-pot-grows-6612024

Gavita hires Shane Hutto as Commercial Consultant for the U.S.

Coloroda based greenhouse crop consultant Shane Hutto of Horticultural Solutions Ltd. is now also hired by Gavita on a part time basis. Hutto is working as a commercial consultant for Gavita since this week.

Shane Hutto owns Horticultural Solutions, a consulting firm for cannabis growers based in Colorado, specialised in high-tech and large-scale warehouses.

Horticultural Solutions is available for all kinds of greenhouse retrofits, modelling and layout designs. “We try to offer a full service package, helping with every aspect of the growth, including staffing, nutrition management and even operation management. You name it, we can help,” said Shane Hutto.

For more information;
Shane Hutto (e-mail)
Horticultural Solutions Ltd.
Owner/Lead Consultant
Ph:+1 720-498-5463


Publication date: 1/7/2015

Blood Meal or Bone Meal: Whats the Difference?

While both sound very similarly and can be easily mixed up, they are differ quite a bit from each other. 

Blood Meal is a by product of slaughter Houses hence the blood part. It is dried and made into a powder. It is high in nitrogen and  an excellent natural way to fertilize your organic garden. It is also known to deter other animals from your veggies.  

Bone Meal is another by product of a slaughter house. The bones are ground up finely to make a granulate or powder. This is more of a slow release fertilizer and is not as readily available as the Nitrogen in Blood meal is. It supplies the plant with phosphorous and proteins. Although it will contain some nitrogen, the amount is not sufficient for the proper growth of a plant. 

Looking for a consultant?

Are you a large commercial grower? Are you looking for a QUALIFIED consultant? This is the guy for you. A Colorado based company, that operates worldwide, assisting in commercial level planning, design, growing, and extraction. Check out the companies site and use the contact form for any inquiries. 

Happy Growing!!

www.hortsolutionscolorado.com

Flower Beards?!?!?!

This makes me wish I had a beard...not really but ya know

Enjoy...

website link below also 

http://www.demilked.com/flower-beards-hipster-trend/

The Funky Fresh Garden Show - Fox Farm

Join The Funky Fresh Crew and Fox Farms own George for a look into their massive product line that can be seen anywhere from your small hydro shops to large garden centers.

The Funky Fresh Garden Show - General Hydroponics NOW AVAILABLE!

Thank You to Chris, from General Hydroponics for stopping by the Goat Shack to talk some product and a little gardening. 

Check it out!

Blueberry Bush

My #blueberry bush... It's been through a lot but it's comin back! It got a little snow, you can see the browning from that and also it needed a good dose of PH Down. After that it put on all that new line green growth you see. Amazing what plants can go through and still flourish with a little Love and attention ✌ 

#gardening #growyourown #hydroponics #thegrowgoddess

The Funky Fresh Garden Show - Dosatron USA

Tune in tomorrow at 6pm MST on KYGT The Goat 102.7. We will be taking a dive into the commercial injector systems that are on the market on their way to being a part of all large scale operations that wish to function at their highest potential and have the most efficient inputs. Dosatron, USA's Chris will be joining us in studio to talk a little bit about his products.

Poppies!

I Can NOT wait for these #Poppies to bloom, They are huge! I will post pics as soon as they do! 

#gardening #growyourown #plantsomething

Companions for my Corn

Companions for my #Corn.

#gourds #gremlingourds #pumpkins #snowballpumpkin #hooliganpumpkin #gardening #growyourown #thegrowgoddess #organics

Gourd

This ones cotyledons were fused together. 

#ifuckinglovescience #gardening #growyourown #gourds

New Hats!

Fresh off the press... Snazzy huh? ❤ #grodan #gardening #hydroponics #growyourown

Don't miss this one!

Live in 5 minutes! Join us to discuss a little medium and talk with Tim from #Smartpots!

102.7 The Goat

Inside the studio

In Studio.

 #KYGT102.7 #indoorgardening #Thefunkyfreshgardenshow #thegrowgoddess #hydroponics #growyourown

SnowBall Pumpkin

Juuuuust a few days old. Snowball pumpkin... I can't help but laugh at the name... #gardening #growyourown #pumpkins #smartpots

The Funky Fresh Garden Show - Smart Pots

Ok Kids, We've got Smart Pots in studio next week! Tune in June 19th at 6pm MST on 102.7 The Goat. My very good friend Tim will be stopping by to talk a little bit about these fabulous fabric pots of theirs. Often imitated never duplicated. Love these things and can't wait to let you know all about them if you don't already! 

#gardening #growyourown #smartpots #thefunkyfreshgardenshow #thegrowgoddess

New Tomato Cages!

My pretty new tomato cages...the garden needed some color #gardening  #tomatoes #growyourown

Best Plant Sale ad EVER!

AMAZING... You have to see this

Seedlings!

#Tomatoes and #Peppers and #Tomatillos, OH MY!  Love this time of year. #growyourown #gardening #grodan #hydroponics