The first marijuana business proposal to go through the city of Glenwood Springs’ newly established City Council review process has resulted in a favorable outcome for the new owners of the Green Dragon to add edibles manufacturing to the operation.

Green Dragon, which was the second retail recreational marijuana business to open in Glenwood Springs in 2013 and the first to include a cultivation facility, was purchased last year by the Denver-based company formerly known as Greenwerkz.

Following the purchase, the Green Dragon name was adopted for all of the company’s operations in Colorado.

The Glenwood facility at 1420 Devereux Road will now include a 1,241-square-foot section for the manufacturing of marijuana-infused edibles, according to company representative Ryan Milligan who spoke before City Council Thursday night.

“Currently we sell edibles and other products that are manufactured elsewhere,” Milligan said. “This is a common-sense addition to our business, and the direction we would like to take.”

Council unanimously approved the application, which was the first to come through the city’s new special use permit review process that was established last year when council decided to revise its marijuana licensing rules. Instead of being heard by a licensing review officer, all new marijuana business requests now must go through the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.

Unlike some of the public outcry that led the city to changes its rules, which was mostly directed at the proposed expansion of marijuana shops in the downtown core, no one spoke against the Green Dragon request to expand into edibles production.

Milligan said the expansion will result in an additional three to five new employees to staff the infused products manufacturing.

The operation will require a carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction machine, a vent and various machines for manufacture of edible marijuana products, he said.

“By producing in-house we can eliminate the necessity of transporting edibles from other companies around the state, most of which come from hours away,” Milligan said in his application to the city.