THORNTON - When Tom Schanaman requested a smoking room, he never expected what he got.
"Little did I know picking a smoking room could be such a disaster," he said.
Schanaman claims the smell of marijuana permeated the hallways of the Sleep Inn on Grant Street in Thornton during his stay in early March.
"I saw families with small children," Schanaman said. "The marijuana being smoked was a strain strong enough for a contact high throughout the inner part of the motel."
Schanaman says he called Thornton Police and officers responded to the motel.
Thornton Police Public Information Officer Matt Barnes confirmed police responded to the motel, but the individuals involved had left the room before officers had arrived.
Front Desk Manager Vicky Sanchez spoke with 9NEWS via telephone Thursday and she confirmed the incident.
"Whether it's legal or not, we weren't sure of that," she said. "It was out of our hands."
Sanchez says the motel does not have a written policy about medical marijuana use in smoking rooms.
"We've never run into a situation like this before," Sanchez said. "It would be something I would have to address with the front desk employees."
When 9NEWS called the motel Thursday and asked if medical marijuana smoking was permitted. A front desk clerk said it was OK as long as a customer "airs out the room" afterwards.
When asked about that, Sanchez said the motel does not permit medical marijuana use, but acknowledged that some employees may have been unaware since there is no written rule.
Sanchez says the issue would be addressed in an upcoming staff meeting with the owner, who was said to be out of town Thursday.
"We definitely have to discuss it and consider a new policy," Sanchez said.
9NEWS called Choice Hotels, which oversees bookings and customer complaints.
A representative said the Thornton Sleep Inn is independently owned and operated and any issue pertaining to drug use would be referred to motel management.
9NEWS contacted the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association. Spokesperson Christine O'Donnell was out of the office and unavailable for comment.
Colorado is one of 16 states that have legalized medical marijuana.
However, the rules regarding indoor marijuana use are open to interpretation. Businesses are required to comply with the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, which does not allow smoking of any kind inside commercial buildings.
Colorado lawmakers passed the Clean Indoor Air Act in 2006. Bars, clubs, restaurants and other indoor establishments are required by law to be 100 percent smoke free. Certain businesses classified as "tobacco bars with humidors" are exempt. Smoking is prohibited 15 feet from any main entryway.
Smoking is also prohibited in common areas of hotels and motels, however, smoking in individual rooms is allowed The law states 75 percent of the hotel or motel rooms for guests must be considered "smoke free."
Schanaman says he will specifically ask about medical marijuana when booking a room in the future.
"What is a non-marijuana smoker's right? Their medicine is affecting children and others," he said. "They should enforce policies to limit medicinal marijuana on motel grounds."
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