Just four people came to the public hearing for the ban, which was parsed into three ordinances to address the different facets of Amendment 64, a voter-approved state amendment that legalizes the possession and use of marijuana for adults 21 and older.

One ordinance banned marijuana cultivation, testing, product manufacturing and retail facilities and made the existence of any one of those a violation of the city’s zoning ordinances.

A second ordinance banned private pot clubs. That ban applies to commercial and industrial structures where adults bring their own pot, but not gatherings at a home, the assistant city attorney said.

The third ordinance brought Greeley’s criminal code in line with Amendment 64, decriminalizing the possession and use of up to one ounce of marijuana for adults and removing marijuana accessories from a list of prohibited drug paraphernalia.

Greeley councilors’ move follows actions “all over the board” concerning how to handle Amendment 64, Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner told the City Council.

Denver City Council on Monday informally agreed to move forward with recreational marijuana, while cities such as Broomfield have passed a moratorium on retail shops until residents can vote on the issue again. In unincorporated Weld County and in Windsor, Weld County commissioners and Town Board members similarly banned recreational pot shops.

Greeley City Council member Robb Casseday said he has struggled with the questions on both sides of the issue. He said many people he talks with say they are concerned about drug trafficking and cartels.

But Casseday said he is also concerned about the effect that the prevalence of pot will have on Greeley’s youth.

“What I see as why voters passed it is, (they did so) without really thinking through all of the other issues that go along with it,” Casseday said.

Three people spoke in support of the ordinances and one person spoke against them. One additional person spoke against the ordinances for their first reading.

Greeley City Council member Charles Archibeque said he would like to see some kind of public forum for residents to clarify to them what is and isn’t illegal in Greeley.

For example, adults 21 and older can use and transfer up to one ounce of marijuana, but it is still illegal for a resident of any age to have more than one ounce of pot. The only exception applies when dealing with marijuana plants. An adult can have up to six marijuana plants – up to three can be mature – and it is legal to keep all of the marijuana that those plants yield, even if it is more than one ounce.