Pubdate: Mon, 11 May 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10

OFFICIALS UNEASY ABOUT PROPOSED MARIJUANA FARM NEAR ROSWELL

City-County Panel to Discuss Plan Tuesday

ROSWELL (AP) - A proposal to turn a former dairy processing plant 
near Roswell into a place to grow plants, specifically marijuana, 
isn't getting high praise from local officials.

A joint city-county commission will meet Tuesday to consider Pecos 
Valley Pharmaceuticals' request to rezone the facility as a 
pharmaceutical manufacturing site. The Roswell-Chaves County 
Extraterritorial Zoning Commission oversees territory within two 
miles of Roswell's city limits.

Officials have received verbal objections, as well as one in writing, 
according to a Chaves County Planning and Zoning Department report. 
Terry Johnson, who runs a septic system company with his family in 
Roswell, voiced his opposition in a letter. A venture involving 
marijuana would have "negative economic, social and moral impacts on 
our community," Johnson said.

"By locating a medical marijuana facility on the South Main corridor, 
I feel it would be a detriment to the property value of the 
surrounding area," he wrote.

He also called the categorizing of the marijuana farm as a 
pharmaceutical manufacturing facility deceptive.

Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh is also not a fan of the proposal. But 
he acknowledged that only the county can have a say in the zoning 
process, the Roswell Daily Record reported.

"Ultimately, the city has no direct authority," Kintigh said. "Plus, 
the state when it set up this supposed medical marijuana, it took 
away all local options, which is frustrating."

But the report endorses approving the zoning change, saying the pot 
farm would bring economic development. Marlin Johnson, director of 
the Chaves County Planning and Zoning Department, said the area where 
the eight-acre facility is located needs a financial boost. 
Furthermore, the state considers marijuana growing facilities "to be 
a compassionate care need," according to the report.

Chaves County commissioners at one time were considering an ordinance 
to ban marijuana in the county. Instead, they just stated their 
formal opposition to recreational marijuana.

Currently, there are more than 13,000 patients enrolled in New 
Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom