Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jun 2015
Source: Glenwood Springs Post Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2015 Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/ys97xJAX
Website: http://www.postindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/821
Author: Mary Noone

'MY VOICE COUNTS' ON POT STORES

As an "adult inhabitant" of downtown Glenwood Springs, I would like 
to comment on the recent editorial in the PI about the moratorium and 
the subsequent ruling in favor of slowing down the proliferation of 
marijuana dispensaries.

First of all, I have had a medical marijuana license for seven years 
to help me successfully deal with the symptoms of Parkinson's 
disease. There is no doubt in my mind that marijuana works and I 
voted in favor of Amendment 64 to legalize it for recreational use. I 
also live in downtown Glenwood Springs, in close proximity to one of 
the recreational outlets at the corner of 11th and Grand Avenue. They 
are good neighbors and honestly work to lessen the impact of a 
popular retail business that operates in a quiet, family neighborhood 
environment.

My issue comes from the industry wanting more. With two dispensaries 
seeking permission to operate within 350 feet of an existing 
dispensary, please refer to the Glenwood Springs Application 
Code/Local Licensing Authority Title 050.090.050. That section of the 
current regulations clearly states:

"The Local Licensing Authority shall consider whether the application 
meets the requirements of the CRMC and City Code, the facts and 
evidence adduced as a result of its investigation, as well as any 
other facts, the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood for the 
class of license for which application has been made, the desires of 
the adult inhabitants and any other pertinent matters affecting the 
qualifications of the applicant for the conduct of the type of 
establishment proposed."

As a citizen of GWS it is within my rights to question the wisdom of 
flooding the downtown with marijuana-related businesses. The chamber 
of commerce is attempting to further the image of GWS as a family 
destination resort. Is a Glenwood Springs that opens the floodgates 
to an unlimited number of marijuana-related industries really what we want?

Citizen activism is essential to a democracy. I take issue with the 
PI's stance that allowing the opinion of adult inhabitants "is a 
dangerous precedent and a bad way to run a town." I applaud the City 
Council tackling this thorny issue. Legal marijuana and how to manage 
it is a new frontier for small communities in Colorado. We need to 
consider those who live downtown and the future of the downtown 
neighborhoods they support.

This is not a "popularity contest." Rather, an opportunity to 
establish guidelines for a new industry based on input from those in 
the community. My voice counts.

Mary Noone

Glenwood Springs
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom