Pubdate: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Author: Joe Vaccarelli, YourHub reporter JEFFCO TO VOTE ON POT BAN The Board Will Decide on If It Should Extend to 2016 the Moratorium on Businesses. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will vote soon on extending a moratorium on marijuana businesses in unincorporated Jefferson County, buying the board more time to study the issue. At a Tuesday meeting, the board introduced a first reading of a resolution that would extend the temporary ban on marijuana businesses in unincorporated Jefferson County to Jan. 1, 2016. The current moratorium expires Feb. 1, 2015. The board will hold a second reading with public comment at its Dec. 9 meeting prior to a vote that day. At a staff briefing after the meeting, Jefferson County Development and Transportation director Jeanie Rossillon, who has been leading the county staff on the issue, said Jan. 1, 2016, is not a "magic date" but would give the staff more time to gather information and explore options for the commissioners. Commissioner Don Rosier said an extension of the moratorium also would allow them to observe what changes are made at the state level before making a decision. "There will be a ton of changes," he said during the briefing. In September, a board-appointed task force recommended in a 134-page report that the county ban marijuana businesses in unincorporated areas. The task force found that marijuana establishments are "not consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the citizens of Jefferson County." Members were divided, with several strongly urging the commissioners to allow the businesses. In Lakewood, residents voted down a ballot measure Nov. 4 that would have allowed retail marijuana stores in the Jefferson County city. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom