Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 Source: Daily Times-Call, The (Longmont, CO) Copyright: 2010, The Daily Times-Call Contact: http://www.timescall.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1475 MEDICAL POT FARMS NEED SOLID OVERSIGHT Neighbors of the Szymanski Farm north of Longmont aren't happy about the possibility the farm could in the future become home to a medical marijuana growing operation. That's understandable. Boulder County commissioners in early June restricted businesses that sell, grow or distribute medical marijuana to commercial, industrial and transitional zoning districts. That ruled out cultivating the plant on agricultural land in the county. But before that vote, one property owner and one prospective property owner applied for permission for grow operations on ag lands. The prospective owner of the Szymanski Farm, a city councilman in Laramie, Wyo., says he doesn't have plans to grow medical marijuana on the farm, but he wants to have the right to, which he says would protect his potential investment by having the land available for that use. The question is whether that's the best use for the land, which for years housed an organic egg operation. The farm's neighbors are understandably concerned about the negative effects on their property and their lives, including worries about security. Since the medical marijuana industry started mushrooming a year or so ago, cities, counties and the state have wrestled with how to regulate it. The state Legislature in its session earlier this year weighed in with laws governing the industry, but much of the regulation has yet to be determined. The county commissioners were right to restrict grow operations. Those that are approved should be done so only with provisions that protect the security and rights of neighbors. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D