Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jun 2010
Source: Aurora Sentinel (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Aurora Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.aurorasentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1672
Author: Sara Castellanos

ARAPAHOE COUNTY EXTENDS POT SHOP MORATORIUM

AURORA - Arapahoe County's Board of Commissioners  extended the
moratorium on medical marijuana  dispensaries Tuesday, opting to wait
until the state  develops rules for the dispensary licensing process.

The commissioners have extended the moratorium until  the State
Licensing Authority develops rules and rolls  out the necessary
paperwork for the medical marijuana  licensing process.The extension
will also give the  commissioners the necessary time to research,
propose,  and adopt land-use and licensing regulations.

"It's important for Arapahoe County to wait for the  licensing rules
and regulations that will be developed  by the Department of Revenue
before we move forward,"  said Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld, who serves
as board  chairman. "It's also important to determine how our
surrounding communities are responding to this issue.  The moratorium
simply gives us the time necessary to  get all the facts in before we
make our decision."

The Colorado Legislature passed a bill this year aimed  at regulating
medical marijuana dispensaries. Under the  bill, moratoriums can be
extended until July 2011.

The moratorium has been in place since December 2009  and prohibits
the opening of medical marijuana  dispensaries within the county. It
was originally  supposed to last only a few weeks, but Arapahoe County
  have continuously extended it to study the potential  adverse affects
of grow operations and dispensaries  within the county, said Andrea
Rasizer, communications  director for Arapahoe County.

Interest in establishing medical marijuana dispensaries  within the
county continues to rise. County officials  have received more than
100 inquiries from people  wanting to establish medical marijuana
dispensaries or  grow operations since the moratorium was established,
  Rasizer said. 
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