Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jun 2010
Source: Journal Advocate, The (Sterling, CO)
Copyright: 2010 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journal-advocate.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4033
Author: Judy  
Journal-Advocate regional editor

COMMISSIONERS EYE MEDICAL POT BAN

Plan To Vote On Resolution Barring Dispensaries, Grow
Operations

The Logan County Commissioners directed County Attorney  Alan Samber
to draw up a resolution banning medical  marijuana dispensaries and
growing operations for their  consideration at a future business
meeting. It is  expected to be on their agenda at the June 29 meeting
and if passed would go into effect immediately.

Samber explained that if the moratorium in place now  were to be
extended it would allow existing businesses  with a license prior to
Aug. 1 to continue unless the  county did something. If the county
does not act before  July 1, 2011, the state will regulate the
dispensaries  after that.

At the Monday work session, commissioners heard from an  owner located
in Logan County and also an owner located  in Washington County. They
requested that the  commissioners allow the medical marijuana
dispensaries  in Logan County because of the need since many people
have to drive so far to get to the one in Washington  County.

The owner from Washington County, Jim Clark, said that  the people
that come to his business are "mostly old  people that travel a long
way. That is the only reason  we were going to do the delivery thing,"

"I would say a good third of our folks come from right  here in
Sterling, Holyoke, Haxtun, Julesburg area and  have to drive an extra
half an hour, 45 (minutes) to an  hour and a half in order to get to
our place instead of  being able to be helped by Dave or by us if we
can open  a dispensary here in your area.

"The average age is 60 -65 and a very small amount are  under age 21,"
he said.

Clark said there are 180 people around the area who  have come to his
place since February. He said that  weekly, about 30-plus come from
this area with sales of  three to five grams, 10 at the most, a week.

He was hoping the commissioners would allow the  dispensaries in Logan
County. He said he realizes that  some people are concerned that there
will be illegal  operations.

"We don't want to be involved in illegal operations of  any kind,"
Clark said.

Commissioner Jim Edwards said the city has already  taken a firm
stand, indicating that he thought the  county should as well.

When asked by Clark why, Edwards responded that he  thinks the program
has been misused with numbers going  from 1,000 to 100,000 and reports
of more than 300  scripts being written a day.

Although there are not that many in this area, there  are some local
doctors who write the prescriptions for  their patients, Clark said.
Writing the scripts is  separate from the dispensary.

Commissioner Jack McLavey agreed with Edwards, saying,  "We see so
many problems with use, and it doesn't do  the city any good if the
county doesn't ban it also."

"We represent the people of Logan County and they voted  this down
before," said Commissioner Debbie Zwirn.

David Durfee, owner of a Logan County dispensary, said  that he would
like to see it go to the people for a  vote.

"As representatives of the county we have to look at  all sides, like
it or not there are illegal things  going on and will continue to be,"
McLavey said. "We  don't want to open a door to somebody that is not
doing  legal things."

Durfee also asked if a resolution is passed, would that  put him out
of business.

He was told that the dispensary would not be allowed.

Commissioner Zwirn stated the resolution would be on  the agenda next
Tuesday, and they were welcome to  attend for the public comment
before the vote.  
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D