Brush Freaky Emporium shop owners Richard and Heather Otero recently made an attempt at opening cannabis gatherings, inviting persons over 21 to their expanded retail store to partake in the smoking and personal use of marijuana, in the wake of Amendment 64

Despite public interest and attendance to the congregations, after a few weeks of providing a safe place, not only to smoke but to eat, drink coffee, converse and trade product, officials from the Brush Police Department shut down the shop’s cannabis meetings last week, citing that the smoking of marijuana in a public space is still prohibited.

Brush Police officials also noted that as a cannabis “club,” the BFE (Brush Freaky Emporium) would also have to put in an application to the city for a special use permit.

The term club, however, was used broadly by the shop for the gathering of happy hour guests.

For the Oteros, however, their passion for the cause has remained tried and true as the owners, who opened the retail shop at 220 Clayton St., have decided to forego the try and trade atmosphere of their cannabis-friendly coffee hours but will continue to invite people over the age of 21 to special coffee hour gatherings where people can bring in product for show, converse and even consume coffee, cappuccinos and fresh bread from Rosita’s Bakery in Fort Morgan, minus the marijuana smoking.

In this redesigned coffee hour, the BFE hopes to continue to create an environment where people can feel welcome to stop in, compare products and stories, bring forth ideas and questions and converse about how to converge the lifestyle now that their home state has regulated the legal use of marijuana. The shop has even hosted sessions of live music, and the Oteros look forward to providing their patrons with good company, good food and good music in the future.

“All we were doing was providing a safe environment for people to come in, eat, drink and partake in smoking while enjoying some good company,” noted Richard Otero during a past gathering of the cannabis club before its closing. “It is in celebration of Amendment 64’s passing, of enjoying our constitutional rights and proving marijuana as a safer alternative to enjoy than alcohol.”

The Oteros will continue to operate their retail store and have taken special pride in supporting the community by featuring local artists and the works of area artisans that are offered for sale or to peruse along with the store’s newly expanded inventory of smoking accessories, posters, apparel, body jewelry, coffee and more.

Since the shop’s opening in autumn of 2012, the Oteros have been hard at work expanding their inventory and services and now feature the talents of locals such as figurines, incense burners and masks by Domna’s Crafts of Akron, sugar skull art created by Fort Morgan’s own David Garcia and a wall display of works from artist Zach English, a.k.a. Hail Brian, a painter out of Brush who is known for his colorful characters and a chaotic mashup of artwork, drawing inspiration from street arts, skateboards and traditional art.

Most of the store’s smoking accessories are also fashioned from hand-blown glass made in Colorado.

“We are proud to be active members of our community,” said Richard. “We are members of the local chamber and active supporters of Brush people and business,” he said.

The BFE’s regular hours have the shop opened Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature extended hours on Tuesdays until 8 p.m.

The gatherings of the coffee hour are open to the public and, although the Oteros have yet to settle on specific dates for the meetings, those interested in stopping in must be over 21 and can call the shop at 842-9792 to find out more about upcoming times and dates. Past meetings have run from 4:20 to 8 p.m. up to two nights per week.

BFE owners Richard and Heather Otero take great pride in giving a home to the talented works of local artists and artisans such as the creators of Domna’s Crafts of Akron, who designed these stunning figurines available for sale.