Pubdate: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 Source: Tribune, The (Greeley, CO) Copyright: 2010sThe Greeley Publishing Co. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/2T4s2YlD Website: http://www.greeleytribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3165 Note: Note: typically publishes LTEs from circulation area only Author: Samantha Abernethy WINDSOR TO PUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA QUESTION ON NOVEMBER BALLOT Windsor residents will decide in November whether to ban all commercial medical marijuana facilities in the town limits. The Windsor Town Board decided Monday to send the question to the ballot after residents presented an ordinance to ban it and a petition with more than 900 signatures of support. The board could either approve the citizen-initiated ordinance, or send it to the voters. It was sent to the ballot on a 4-3 vote. Board members Mike Carrigan and Kristie Melendez and Mayor John Vazquez voted to approve the legislation as written. Board members Robert Bishop-Cotner, Matthew O'Neill, Don Thompson and Jon Slater voted to send the question to the ballot. The petition was co-sponsored by former Town Board members Nancy Weber and Michael Kelly. The group needed to gather at least 611 valid signatures of registered voters. They turned in 915 signatures. Melendez said that was a clear indicator that residents want marijuana banned. She also said she did not think the town should accept tax money from the sale of a substance illegal under federal law. The ballot question will ask if the town should adopt an ordinance to prohibit the operation of a dispensary, grow facility or marijuana-infused product manufacturing facility in the town limits. If the voters say yes, private medical marijuana use and possession would not be directly affected. But all commercial medical marijuana operations would have to shut down within 180 days. On April 6, the town voted 3,514 to 905 to limit the town to two licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. The board recently passed a new ordinance to make that official as of Sept. 1. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D