Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 Source: Pueblo Chieftain (CO) Copyright: 2013 The Pueblo Chieftain Contact: http://www.chieftain.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1613 Author: Nick Bonham MED POT BUSINESSES SAY THEY DESERVE ADVANTAGE OVER OUT-OF-TOWNERS Local medical marijuana dispensaries want to develop the future recreational pot market. County commissioners held a public forum Thursday night to solicit feedback on zoning, regulations, taxation and issues surrounding Amendment 64, which voters passed, making recreational pot legal. "How do we establish Pueblo County? How do we establish this industry," Brian Vicente, the county's marijuana lawyer asked a crowd of 20. The county has been home to as many as seven dispensaries. Some owners want first dibs on the recreational business. Under the amendment, medical shops will be the first to transition into recreational business. Dispensary owners said they deserve to establish the market, reap profits for years of investments and molding county medical marijuana rules. "We gave our hearts and stuff to make this run good. We've put a lot, a lot into Pueblo. Please, Pueblo, realize and give it back to us a little bit, because we really haven't made a lot of money in medical marijuana because of fees, applications, security," said Mike Stetler, owner of Marisol Therapeutics. Stetler is concerned about out-of-town businesses relocating here, a marijuana friendly county by voting record, that would threaten local businesses. He asked commissioners to consider a lengthy period -- nine months to more than a year -- before allowing new businesses to open. Aaron Schierling, co-owner of Steel City Meds, wants commissioners to establish a model regulatory system. Also, zoning rules need revamping. "It ties our hands and as of right now, it greatly hinders our ability to compete," he said. Dispensary owners think recreational marijuana should be regulated like alcohol, which was a selling point for Amendment 64 advocates. Citizen George Samaras said the amendment has few similarities to liquor laws and asked commissioners to think about that. "It's not equal to alcohol. It's not being taxed equal, it's not being treated equally, nothing is really equal in my viewpoint," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt