The Soonest a Shop Could Open Would Be Next Year, in One Spot In Town MINTURN, Colorado -- Voters last year essentially asked the Minturn Town Council to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in town. Nearly nine months later, the council hasn't yet voted on a measure that would allow those businesses, for a number of reasons. The main stumbling block has been the evolution of Colorado's medical marijuana regulations. While Colorado voters approved a medical marijuana law in 2000, it took a 2009 edict from the U.S. Department of Justice that it wouldn't prosecute medical marijuana businesses under federal law for business in the state to take off. [continues 472 words]
Commissioners Taking Fresh Look At Medical Marijuana Business EAGLE, Colorado -- By this time next year, it may be a bit easier to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Eagle County. But don't expect an explosion. There are five dispensaries now operating in the county -- and a few more in the county's towns. Voters in both Eagle County and Minturn voted Nov. 2 to keep those dispensaries open. The problem, at least in the county, is that county regulations enacted last year have so limited where a dispensary can operate that none of the existing businesses could open today in their current locations . The current businesses are allowed to stay open because they opened before the county regulations were passed. [continues 507 words]
County Commissioners Say Voters Sent A Clear Message To Keep Dispensaries EAGLE, Colorado -- With a clear mandate to keep the county's medical marijuana dispensaries open, county officials are now starting to work on how to regulate those businesses. In response to a 2009 boom in the business, the Eagle County commissioners that year passed a set of zoning regulations that effectively limited the marijuana dispensary business in the county to the five businesses that had already opened. In fact, if any of those businesses had to move from its current location, the regulations wouldn't allow any of the shops to re-open. [continues 205 words]
New Language Would Ask Voters Whether They Want Pot Shops To Stay Open EAGLE, Colorado -- Eagle County voters will be asked this fall whether or not to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. But how they'll be asked is taking some time. At the urging of an attorney for one of the dispensaries, voters will be asked if they want to keep the medical marijuana businesses operating. The original ballot language asked voters if they wanted to ban the shops. The commissioners have said they'll abide by the results of the vote, although it won't have the force of law. [continues 228 words]
EAGLE COUNTY -- If the rest of Colorado voted like Eagle County, marijuana would be legal. If the rest of the state voted like Eagle County, an amendment to define "marriage" as only between one man and one woman would have failed, and another ballot issue to create "domestic partnerships" between same-sex couples would have passed. If the rest of the state voted like Eagle County did, Democrats would be waiting to take the oath of office for two elected jobs won by Republicans. [continues 390 words]
VAIL - If a small sampling in Vail is any indication, a group trying to legalize marijuana possession in Colorado might have some local support. The Denver-based group, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, last week announced it will try to get a measure on the 2006 fall ballot that would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults in the state. The petition drive to get on the ballot will start next month. Local resident Fletcher Groff thinks that's a fine idea. "I'm 100 percent for it," Groff said. "You don't hear about people getting high and getting in accidents, or getting into domestic violence. People get high and get mellow." Denver resident Rick Weber has a live-and-let-live attitude toward marijuana use. "I'm not against (legalization), and I'm not for it," Weber said. "Whatever people want to do is fine with me." [continues 311 words]
