Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO) Copyright: 2010 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/ Website: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165 Author: Wayne Laugesen COUNCIL REJECTS BLACK MARKET POT City Says No To Radical MMJ Restrictions The Colorado Springs City Council deserves enormous accolades for resisting the temptation to politically grandstand by sending a phony anti-drug message and casting votes to "save the children" from that which doesn't threaten them. The council rejected a Byzantine list of proposed medical marijuana retail recommendations that came from its own planning commission. The commission invited special interests - including churches, colleges and preschools - to push for a 1,000-foot buffer zone that would exclude medical marijuana businesses. It was a proposal that made proponents appear anti-drug on the surface, but in truth it was anything but an anti-drug idea. It was a proposal that stood to benefit the images of commission members while jeopardizing those it was purported to protect. The buffer and other proposals of the planning commission would have immediately put 60 medical marijuana businesses out of business, thus causing financial ruin for owners and investors and putting employees out of work. It would have deprived City Hall of substantial revenues in the form of fees and sales taxes paid by legal and regulated marijuana stores. Far worse, it would have once again empowered black market marijuana dealers who have absolutely no compunction with selling marijuana to children. Licensed, taxpaying, regulated medical marijuana businesses have hurt underground street dealers, and the above-ground retailers do not sell marijuana to kids. They would be caught, and they have everything to lose. They are the people who are invested in obeying the law. Furthermore, the planning commission's back-door effort to close legal medical marijuana stores was completely contrary to the will of the public. In November's election, residents of Colorado Springs were responsible for defeating a county-wide ballot measure that would have banned medical marijuana businesses. A majority of the general public is not pro-drug. But it is clear the general public prefers lawful, regulated, tax-paying marijuana dispensaries over illegal, underground dealers who pay nothing to fund the common good and obey nobody's rules. "The community has voted on this, and I absolutely will support the will of the voters," said councilman Darryl Glenn, the most conservative member of the council and a crusader against marijuana. Along with rejecting the radical buffer zones, the planning commission wanted to limit the amount of space used for a grow operation. That was a proposal to make it impossible to sustain a grow operation and would give back the monopoly the criminal black market long enjoyed. "I am not inclined to put any restrictions on how you configure and use your facility. That's a business decision you have to make," said councilman Larry Small, the vice mayor. "I'm not aware of any other business where we have said, 'You must use your floor area in this particular fashion." The City Council, at least for now, has proven it's ability to act with sanity, bravery and sharp intellect. Council members did what was right, not what would create dishonest anti-drug "do it for the children" facade. - - By Wayne Laugesen, editorial page editor, for the editorial board - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D