Pubdate: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 Source: Delta County Independent (CO) Copyright: 2010 Delta County Independent Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/5y9TXXEE Website: http://www.deltacountyindependent.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5139 Author: Hank Lohmeyer Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) ORCHARD CITY LOOKS TO EXTEND MARIJUANA DISPENSARY MORATORIUM Following the lead of county government and other municipalities, the Town of Orchard City plans to extend its moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries for another 180 days. The town adopted its first moratorium last Nov. 18. Last week on Wednesday, April 14, the trustees heard first reading of an ordinance that will extend the current 180-day moratorium. Town trustees will vote on the measure at second reading during their May 12 meeting. There will also be a public hearing on the proposed ordinance. "As you are all aware," said Mayor Don Suppes, introducing the topic, "we are waiting for the state to make some decisions (concerning dispensary regulation) that we can actually follow through with. This proposed ordinance is just to extend the ordinance we passed in November." Trustee Gale Doudy asked, "How many times can we extend this?" Suppes replied, "We are allowed to extend this now until the (state's) legislation is passed. Beyond that point we would be hard pressed to extend the local moratorium again." The town government felt outmaneuvered a month ago when, after adopting its first moratorium against establishment of new dispensaries, an existing marijuana dispensary in the town, Grand Mesa Herbal Dispensary, moved and expanded its operation from a sequestered site on Fruitgrowers road to a highly visible location on Highway 65. The town's moratorium had not included any prohibition against existing marijuana dispensaries expanding their operations. Though Orchard City and other jurisdictions are waiting for guidance from the state on regulation of the dispensaries, the town could be disappointed with any legislative result. Statehouse politicians are being pressured with high-dollar lobbying efforts by pro-pot interests from out of state that have lots of money to spend on the goal of legalized marijuana. Local law enforcement officials are not hopeful that any legislative result coming from Denver this year will even effectively address the many and widespread abuses of Colorado's current medical marijuana system. Those abuses include the following: - - Easy approval for access to marijuana "cards" which grant legal possession; - - Widespread forging of medical marijuana cards; - - Abuse of the state law's intent that dispensaries serve as true "caregivers" for clients and not just as marijuana distribution outlets; - - And, patients skirting the law's intent by using multiple dispensary outlets to buy large quantities of marijuana, far more than required for medical purposes. Nevertheless, town officials remain hopeful that the state legislature will finally adopt some form of regulation on marijuana dispensaries. Town government regulation of the dispensaries would be a first in the area of Orchard City regulation of local business. There are currently five legally operating medical marijuana dispensaries in Delta County, according to the sheriff's department. In addition to the one in Eckert, there is one each in Delta and Crawford, and two in Paonia. Another one may open in Delta, also. Orchard City's proposed moratorium extension ordinance would become effective immediately upon adoption by the town board. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom