Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jun 2010
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Grand Junction, CO)
Copyright: 2010 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.gjsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2084
Author: Emily Anderson

GJ COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MARIJUANA REGULATION

The Grand Junction City Council will air out its  options for 
handling statewide medical marijuana  legislation during a workshop 
meeting Monday at City  Hall.

Under the provisions of recently signed medical  marijuana 
legislation, city and county boards in  Colorado can vote to ban 
medical marijuana  dispensaries, operations that grow medical 
marijuana  and product makers. They can ask local voters to decide 
whether they want a ban or prefer to follow the rules  outlined in 
House Bill 1284.

Through a board decision or public vote, cities and  counties can 
make more stringent rules in addition to  those in the bill.

One-size-fits-all legislation may not work for  Colorado's diverse 
roster of municipalities, Councilman  Tom Kenyon said. The key is to 
find what works for  Grand Junction, he said.

"Personally, I think it's always a good decision to ask  voters what 
they want," Kenyon said.

But given the cost of elections, Kenyon said he wants  to discuss 
with the community first whether that's a  worthwhile option. He said 
he would like to have a  discussion with Mesa County, Palisade and 
Fruita leaders to see what they will be doing and how 
their  decisions could affect the city's plans.

Council member Gregg Palmer said he wants input from  the community, 
but he's not sure about a ballot option.

"Instead of spending money on an election, council is  the 
appropriate place to have the decision made,"  Palmer said. "I don't 
see value in putting the issue  off for months and months until we 
can have an election."

Palmer said he's not in favor of banning all sources of  medical 
marijuana within city limits, but he would like  to see local 
guidelines regulating supply, sanitation  standards and 
qualifications for people to receive  medical marijuana cards. The 
city's process for liquor  licensing could serve as a model for 
licensing medical-marijuana-related businesses, Palmer said.

"If we use that template, I don't think we have to  reinvent the 
wheel," he said.

Whatever is decided, council member Sam Susuras said  the council 
needs to move quickly. Cities and counties  have until July 1, 2011, 
to decide what to do before  medical-marijuana-related operations are 
subject to all  rules in House Bill 1284. Some provisions, such as 
dispensaries paying fees and filling out Department of  Revenue 
forms, will go into effect as early as July 1  this year.

Susuras said he is confident the city will have some  regulation in 
addition to what the state outlined.

"I think we definitely need our own," he said.

Which direction Grand Junction will take is up for  debate, Mayor 
Teresa Coons said.

"I'm trying not to form an opinion before the (Monday  workshop) 
meeting. I'm hoping no one goes into the  meeting saying 'Here's what 
we're going to do,' " she  said.

Grand Junction is joining a growing number of  municipalities 
considering their options after the June  7 signing of House Bill 
1284. The City Council in Vail  has adopted a ban, Sterling's council 
is considering a  ban, and the Aurora City Council is weighing a 
public  vote on a ban.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart