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Record of Proceedings

City of Golden Local Licensing Authority Meeting – August 13, 2026

City Council & Boards — Thursday, August 13, 2026
BodyGolden, Colorado
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateThursday, August 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 51:53

Transcript — Verbatim
1:14

Sorry, just waiting to get on the Wi-Fi and then you think so.

1:38

Is this the same thing?

2:16

Okay.

2:16

We ready?

2:18

We are.

2:18

Okay, perfect.

2:21

Okay.

2:26

All right.

2:26

I will go ahead and call to order.

2:28

A meeting of the City of Golden Local Licensing Authority is August 13th, 2026 at 232 PM.

2:35

Sorry to be a little late.

2:37

Uh first item is approval of the minutes of June 16, 2026.

2:42

Those are approved.

2:44

The next is a hearing about the change of controlling beneficial owner application for Nabrina Golden LLC doing business as social cannabis dispensary at one seven one two zero West Colfax Avenue in Golden.

2:58

Um who do we have here for that?

3:02

Hello, my name's Josh Riggs.

3:05

Awesome.

3:06

Thank you.

3:07

Um and then do we have someone online as well?

3:10

Yes, um, I'm Gene Ganell, I'm counsel for the applicants.

3:14

And I'm sorry, could you spell your last name, please?

3:17

Yes, um G-O-N-N-E-L-L.

3:21

Thank you.

3:23

Okay.

3:25

All right.

3:26

And then for the city?

3:27

Uh yes, Lucas Markley, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Golden.

3:31

Great.

3:31

Thank you.

3:34

Um, how would Mr.

3:37

Markle look at you?

3:38

How would you like to proceed in this hearing?

3:42

Uh well, I think since the applicant does have the um burden of proof, one option would be to uh let them present any information they would like to about qualifications of uh the change in ownership or the people becoming owners.

3:58

And then if I have any further questions, I could I could do that.

4:01

So that'd be one way.

4:02

I think that's a good idea.

4:04

Um Ms.

4:04

Ganell, how would uh is that acceptable to you?

4:09

I'm sorry, I can barely hear you say that one more time.

4:14

Hold on.

4:16

Should I uh Ms.

4:17

Ganell, did you hear what I said?

4:20

Yeah, we have the burden, and so effectively having my clients just explain um their experience and why they should be granted licensure, essentially.

4:29

Essentially, yes.

4:30

And then I I suppose I'll say at the outset there was a couple concerning items on the background check uh for Mr.

4:36

Morgan, so that is one thing that we would be interested in.

4:41

And I think maybe we make it a little bit easy.

4:43

Um we can have each of the applicants come up.

4:47

Um all of these individuals will be CBOs associated with their entities and you know, effectively explain their background in the marijuana industry and start from there.

4:57

And I do understand there are some questions about two of the backgrounds, which which is fine, and we can address those.

5:02

We'll have those two CBOs come up last to save time if that's meanable to everyone.

5:08

Uh no objection from the city.

5:11

That works for me.

5:12

I think I might have you start if it's okay with you with I'm I didn't understand your organizational charts at all.

5:19

I'll just be honest with you.

5:20

So I I I guess I would like a really basic rundown of who's who and what's what and who's going where and who's doing what because I didn't I didn't see matching entities, but I again I'm not sure that I'm following completely.

5:34

So perhaps you guys can start there.

5:38

Yeah, I I can provide the background unless Josh wants to.

5:41

Um which would you prefer, Josh?

5:44

Uh Gene, if you could take this part of it, uh that would be great.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Cannabis Regulation█████████████████████████████████████████████82%
Procedural████████15%
Public Safety██3%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Golden Local Licensing Authority Meeting – August 13, 2026

The City of Golden Local Licensing Authority met on August 13, 2026, at 2:32 PM in City Hall Council Chambers to consider two hearings: a change of controlling beneficial owner application for a cannabis dispensary and a liquor license renewal. The meeting also included approval of previous meeting minutes and adjournment.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (June 16, 2026): The minutes were approved without discussion.

Discussion Items

  • Hearing – Change of Controlling Beneficial Owner – Nebrina Golden LLC d/b/a Social Cannabis Dispensary (17120 West Colfax Avenue):

    • The applicant sought to add four new controlling beneficial owners: Josh Riggs (already approved), Cher Judah, Sam Afori, Nader Wahdan, and Dan Morgan, through entities JRGBD LLC, C2Sell Consulting, and United Brothers LLC.
    • The hearing officer expressed confusion over the submitted ownership charts, noting they did not clearly show all passive beneficial owners (including Society Organics LLC at 9%) and the percentages did not appear to add up to 100%.
    • The city attorney (Lucas Markley) raised concerns about Dan Morgan’s criminal history, including a 2012 DWAI, a 2024 leaving-the-scene-of-an-accident charge, and a 2023 speeding incident. Mr. Morgan testified that he completed probation early, attended Track D classes, and a MADD panel. The hearing officer stated she was not inclined to approve Mr. Morgan due to the recency and pattern of substance-related incidents.
    • The hearing officer proposed continuing the hearing to allow the applicant to either restructure (remove Mr. Morgan) or provide additional evidence of rehabilitation. The city did not object. The applicant’s counsel (Gene Ganell) requested clarification on the specific grounds for denial, and Mr. Morgan offered to submit character references and evidence of volunteer work.
    • Outcome: The hearing was continued to September 15, 2026, at 2:30 PM, with the option for virtual participation. The applicant was asked to provide a corrected organizational chart showing all owners and either restructure or submit additional evidence regarding Mr. Morgan’s fitness.

  • Hearing – Renewal Application – AU Liquors LLC d/b/a Golden Liquor (601 13th Street):

    • Licensee Justin I. appeared. The renewal was scheduled due to a state stipulation for serving an underage person (an 18-year-old) and because the renewal application incorrectly answered “no” to a question about violations.
    • Mr. I. explained the violation was by a part-time employee who did not check an ID; the employee has since completed TIPS training. Mr. I. acknowledged the application error as an oversight and stated he had scheduled responsible vendor training for himself and a new employee for August 17, 2026.
    • The city attorney noted that the incident could also result in local penalties and recommended stronger training policies. The hearing officer stressed the importance of training all employees before they serve and suggested both TIPS and responsible vendor training.
    • Outcome: The renewal was approved. The hearing officer strongly recommended that the licensee implement pre-service training for all employees and correct the application to reflect the violation. No formal conditions were attached, but a warning was given that future violations could lead to suspension, revocation, or non-renewal.

Key Outcomes

  • Approval of Minutes: Approved.
  • Nebrina Golden LLC Change of Ownership: Hearing continued to September 15, 2026, at 2:30 PM. Applicant must provide a clear ownership chart and either remove Dan Morgan or submit additional evidence of rehabilitation. The city did not oppose the continuance.
  • Golden Liquor Renewal: Approved. The licensee was urged to fix the application error and implement mandatory pre-service alcohol training for all employees.

Meeting Transcript

Sorry, just waiting to get on the Wi-Fi and then you think so. Is this the same thing? Okay. We ready? We are. Okay, perfect. Okay. All right. I will go ahead and call to order. A meeting of the City of Golden Local Licensing Authority is August 13th, 2026 at 232 PM. Sorry to be a little late. Uh first item is approval of the minutes of June 16, 2026. Those are approved. The next is a hearing about the change of controlling beneficial owner application for Nabrina Golden LLC doing business as social cannabis dispensary at one seven one two zero West Colfax Avenue in Golden. Um who do we have here for that? Hello, my name's Josh Riggs. Awesome. Thank you. Um and then do we have someone online as well? Yes, um, I'm Gene Ganell, I'm counsel for the applicants. And I'm sorry, could you spell your last name, please? Yes, um G-O-N-N-E-L-L. Thank you. Okay. All right. And then for the city? Uh yes, Lucas Markley, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Golden. Great. Thank you. Um, how would Mr. Markle look at you? How would you like to proceed in this hearing? Uh well, I think since the applicant does have the um burden of proof, one option would be to uh let them present any information they would like to about qualifications of uh the change in ownership or the people becoming owners. And then if I have any further questions, I could I could do that. So that'd be one way. I think that's a good idea. Um Ms. Ganell, how would uh is that acceptable to you? I'm sorry, I can barely hear you say that one more time. Hold on. Should I uh Ms. Ganell, did you hear what I said? Yeah, we have the burden, and so effectively having my clients just explain um their experience and why they should be granted licensure, essentially. Essentially, yes. And then I I suppose I'll say at the outset there was a couple concerning items on the background check uh for Mr. Morgan, so that is one thing that we would be interested in. And I think maybe we make it a little bit easy. Um we can have each of the applicants come up. Um all of these individuals will be CBOs associated with their entities and you know, effectively explain their background in the marijuana industry and start from there. And I do understand there are some questions about two of the backgrounds, which which is fine, and we can address those.

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