At the moment last week when marijuana entrepreneur Ross Vaisman received a license to open his recreational cannabis storefront on West Colfax Avenue, he made history as the first person in Denver to beat back an effort by city officials to stymie his plans.

The license granted Thursday to the Pig N’ Whistle came after a circuitous 15-month legal battle involving an initial denial by the Department of Excise and Licenses in March 2015, numerous challenges and appeals from the city and applicant and finally orders from two Denver district judges in Vaisman’s favor.

It marked the first time a denial of a license for recreational pot sales had been overturned in Denver.

“The law has spoken loud and clear,” Vaisman told The Denver Post on Monday. “I have the right to sell recreational marijuana at the Pig N’ Whistle location.”

But it’s a right that cost Vaisman what he estimates was at least $3.7 million in lost revenue while he waited for his case to be resolved. [Read more at The Denver Post]