The number of pot shops in Aspen will exceed the amount of liquor stores if the latest dispensary application is approved. Aspen Public Radio’s Carolyn Sackariason has the details.
Two local men submitted their application Friday to the Aspen City Clerk to open a pot shop at 400 East Hyman. RootsRX would be the seventh marijuana dispensary in downtown Aspen.
The applicants are Rob Holmes and Pete Tramm. Tramm says entering such a saturated market is not a concern.
“The big thing for us is we get in at least half as cheap or cheaper than everybody else as far as our expenses go which we feel is huge as far as being competitive.”
City records show RootsRX would pay just over $5,000 a month for the first year. That’s compared to $20,000 a month Green Dragon pays for its location across the pedestrian mall. The other pot shops in town pay between $8,000 and $12-grand a month.
Some landlords charge marijuana dispensaries more than other businesses. The lease for Stash, near City Market, shows it pays $4-thousand dollars a month but if the use changes to something else, the rent is cut in half. Carolyn Sackariason, Aspen Public Radio news.