Pubdate: Thu, 06 May 2010
Source: Telluride Watch (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Telluride Watch
Contact:  http://www.telluridewatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3883

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY ISSUES MEDICAL CANNABIS MORATORIUM

TELLURIDE -- San Miguel County has enacted a temporary  emergency 
moratorium pertaining to commercial  enterprises engaging in the sale 
or distribution of  medical cannabis to the public in the county's 
unincorporated areas.

The resolution, enacted April 28 with the intent of  further 
exploring the impact of medical marijuana  purveyors on San Miguel 
County's citizens and the  public interest, may remain in place until 
October 31.

With no land use regulations specific to marijuana  dispensaries in 
place, the moratorium makes sense, San  Miguel County Planning 
Director Mike Rozycki said. The  moratorium will not only allow 
county staff to craft  the appropriate regulations, but will give the 
county time to follow the progress of HB 10-1284, a bill  currently 
under review by the Colorado State  Legislature.

"Most of the areas in our county that are appropriate  for retail 
fall within the boundaries of  municipalities," Rozycki said. 
"However, as we have had  a number of inquiries from individuals who 
have  proposed or started medical marijuana dispensaries 
in  unincorporated parts of the county, the board of 
county  commissioners felt that it would be appropriate to  impose a 
temporary moratorium.

"If HB 10-1284 bill passes, it would create a licensing  process 
similar to that which regulates liquor  licenses," Rozycki said. "The 
moratorium also gives us  the time we need to see what our state laws 
are going  to be."

To learn more, or to read the resolution in full, visit  the San 
Miguel County web site at  www.sanmiguelcounty.org.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart