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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom