Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2010
Source: Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Pueblo Chieftain
Contact:  http://www.chieftain.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1613
Author: Peter Roper

MED POT REGULATIONS DELAYED UNTIL JULY

Councilwoman's request for a city vote is denied.

A majority of City Council brushed off a request Monday  night to let
city voters decide whether or not to allow  medical marijuana
dispensaries in the city, choosing  instead to start looking at
licensing regulations in  July.

Councilwoman Judy Weaver asked that those licensing  regulations be
delayed until November and that city  voters be asked whether they
want to allow the  marijuana shops in the city.

Her argument was that a majority of Pueblo County  voters rejected the
state constitutional amendment in  2000 that legalized the use of
marijuana for a short  list of medical conditions. In that election,
more than  28,000 county voters rejected the amendment while more
than 24,000 voted for it.

"I feel strongly that our voters ought to be consulted  on whether
they want these dispensaries in Pueblo," she  said. Weaver got support
for her amendment from  Councilwoman Vera Ortegon and Councilman Chris
Kaufman.

But a majority -- Council President Larry Atencio and  Councilmen
Leroy Garcia, Steve Nawrocki and Ray  Aguilera -- voted against that
idea, saying state  voters had approved medical marijuana in the 2000
election.

"How many times are we gonna vote on this?" Aguilera  asked, saying
the issue was an uncomfortable one for  council and the city should
move forward with  regulations.

Garcia said the public isn't asked to vote on the  appropriateness of
other drugs and medications.

Nawrocki, a cancer survivor, said he'd been encouraged  by several
local oncologists to move forward with  allowing dispensaries in the
city.

On the second question of extending the city moratorium  on licensing
medical pot dispensaries until July 27,  that passed on a 6-1 vote,
with Kaufman continuing his  opposition. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D