Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2012
Source: Glenwood Springs Post Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/ys97xJAX
Website: http://www.postindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/821
Author: John Colson

CARBONDALE EYES MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL POT

Trustees concerned about the effects of Amendment 64

CARBONDALE, Colorado -- Town officials here, worried about the effects
of Amendment 64, are thinking about imposing a moratorium on new
medical marijuana dispensaries.

Town administrator Jay Harrington said Wednesday that a proposed
ordinance declaring the moratorium will be on the agenda of the Nov.
27 board of trustees meeting.

Colorado voters on Nov. 6 approved Amendment 64, which makes it legal
for any state resident over the age of 21 to grow, possess and consume
marijuana and provided for the legal sale of the drug. New state
regulations governing the trade must be developed by July 2014.

Voters in 2000 approved a separate constitutional amendment to permit
the cultivation, sale and consumption of medical marijuana, with a
doctor's prescription.

Harrington said the moratorium proposal is in reaction to interest
that some local medical marijuana dispensaries have shown in
converting their businesses to the sale of non-medical, recreational
marijuana.

Such a conversion, Harrington said, is allowed under Amendment 64, but
local governments will have to come up with a new set of laws to
control the retail marijuana outlets, as well as the
conversions.

He said some town officials feel it may be a problem to process
applications for new medical marijuana businesses, while the town is
busy trying to work out the implications of Amendment 64.

Two medical marijuana dispensaries recently saw their applications
denied or withdrawn by the board of trustees, when a majority of the
trustees concluded that the town's need for such businesses may
already had been met.

The town board had indicated it wanted to rewrite Carbondale's medical
marijuana regulation to address the question of need and other issues,
but Harrington said that idea is on hold for now.

Harrington said the town is considering whether to allow the two
rejected dispensaries to operate despite the moratorium, although they
would be operating without a valid permit for the time being.

"We're kind of, a little bit, back to square one," said Harrington,
referring to the town's position regarding the sale of marijuana,
medical or otherwise.
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