Pubdate: Thu, 16 Feb 2012
Source: Colorado Springs Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Bryce Crawford

UPDATE ON U.S. ATTORNEY'S DEADLINE

Calm before the storm

With U.S. Attorney John Walsh's approaching deadline for the 23
Colorado medical marijuana centers located within 1,000 feet of
schools to have moved or closed, we checked in with the office for any
updates.

"No update," writes spokesman Jeff Dorschner in an e-mail. The only
Colorado Springs center targeted for the Feb. 26 deadline is
Indispensary (123 E. Bijou St., indispensary.com), where an employee
says management has checked out 27 alternative sites, but not yet
decided on one.

When we asked Dorschner if they would notify the public when centers
were prosecuted, he responded, "For officer safety and operational
reasons, we will not publicly release information regarding stores
that are open that will be the subject of an enforcement action. This
is especially true prior to the enforcement action."

Lastly, we asked about a rumor that the U.S. Attorney's next target
would be centers located within 1,000 feet of public parks.

"My response is our focus is stores 1,000 feet from schools - public
and private, elementary through college," writes Dorschner.

Clerk: Getting there

Another check-in, this one with the City Clerk's office on the
processing of MMJ center applications:

"Of the initial 122 Medical Marijuana Business applications submitted,
86 applications are in various stages of the review process," writes
Lee McRae, the license enforcement officer in charge of medical
marijuana, in an e-mail. "Fifteen applications have been approved and
forwarded to the State Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division (MMED)
for license approval; two applicants have been granted and issued
licenses; 13 applications have either been denied or withdrawn, which
leaves 36 applications still awaiting initial review and
processing."

Asked when the city anticipates finishing the process, McRae would
only say "no specific deadline of completing the application review is
available."

Going National

Another media company shines its light on our MMJ scene when National
Geographic begins airing its new series American Weed at 8 p.m., Wednesday.

Besides Denver police, the show focuses on the Stanley brothers, a
veritable juggernaut in Colorado. While oldest brother Josh and his
Denver dispensary are featured, viewpoints from his family are also
given to illustrate some of the struggles in the state: "Five other
Stanley brothers make up the growing team supplying medicine for
Indispensary in Colorado Springs," writes Mandy Christensen of sister
company Independent Records and Video in an e-mail.
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