[420 Girl]

Larimer County commissioners voted Monday to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Forty-two people spoke to commissioners Monday night about medical marijuana dispensaries, offering a variety of opinions. The majority told commissioners to regulate dispensaries, while smaller numbers asked the commissioners to either ban

dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the county or to send the question to voters in November.

But Commissioner Lew Gaiter noted that though more people who spoke Monday wanted to regulate it, almost all of the calls he received before the meeting sought a ban, and that’s

what he proposed. “As I listen to people tonight the concern I hear is primarily about access,” he said, noting people want to make sure they can continue to have access. A ban will not remove access but it may make it more difficult, he said. Commissioners Tom Donnelly and Steve Johnson also said they favored a ban.

Municipalities are better able to handle the impacts than the county, Johnson said, noting some nights the Sheriff’s Office has only three deputies to patrol the whole county.

“We need to make the decision. That’s what we were elected to do, Johnson said.

“See you in court,” one man shouted and walked out of the hearing room.

Johnson, chairman of the commission, noted at the start of the meeting that the state has allowed medical marijuana use for about 10 years, after passage of a constitutional amendment in 2000. But the amendment only provided for patients to use it and caregivers to grow and provide it for patients who couldn’t or didn’t want to do for themselves.

Since then, larger dispensaries have cropped up, something not envisioned with the amendment, in part because of a decision by the Justice Department to not pursue prosecution under federal drug laws in states that allow medical marijuana use, Johnson said.

Among the people who spoke in favor of regulating medical marijuana in the unincorporated areas of the county, Erica Freeman, co-owner of Choices Organics, a proposed center in the unincorporated area of the county, said her business has paid more than $8,000 to apply for a state license, money that is not refundable if the county bans such use. She said they have tried to meet the county’s regulations, and asked commissioners to give them a chance to make it work.

Commissioners will consult their attorney about whether they can grandfather in existing businesses.

Deanne Fredrickson, a land planner and landscape architect who has been working with medical marijuana businesses, told commissioners they have the ability to regulate the businesses. “I think you should have more faith in your own system,” she said.

Andrew Mowery talked about a neighbor who had multiple sclerosis but was afraid to get a medical marijuana card, afraid to have the drug in her house. “She suffered out of that fear,” he said. Mowery said if the county puts it to a vote, people with money will sway the election. He asked the commissioners to regulate it.

Abby Kremmer, who identified herself as an employee of a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins, asked commissioners not to ban it. “If worse comes to worse, put it to a public vote,” because people will vote for it, she said. Commissioner Donnelly asked her how she decides on doses, and she answered she talks to patients about what works for them, and gets information online.

Martha Simmons, who works with cancer patients, said she would prefer medical doctors decide on the doses, rather than someone who seeks out information online.

“An online education is problematic to me,” she said. Simmons said she liked the idea of sending the question to a vote.

Larry Cecil told commissioners the question should go to a vote. “Many of the citizens feel like they made a mistake, and I wish this would appear on the vote again,” he said.

Cecil said he thought the dispensaries were an invitation to criminal activity. “Nobody’s said it yet but this is about big-bucks folks,” he added.

Colin Hornback told commissioners medical marijuana use in the county is nothing but legalized drug dealing. “It’s bringing a lot of harm to the community and established businesses,” he said, asking commissioners to ban it.

John Keller said he feels the decision should be in the hands of the public, and that it’s not too complicated for the voters to understand.

County voters were evenly split on the decision 10 years ago to allow medical marijuana, he noted. It’s reasonable to ask those people, now that they’ve had experience with it, to vote on it again, he said, adding that he hopes they would vote for it.

“The current model is simply bad legislation,” he said, suggesting pharmacies should be allowed to sell it instead of dispensaries.

Sheriff Jim Alderden also spoke, and said voters in 2000 did not contemplate dispensaries. “That was not what the voters voted for, particularly in this community,” he said.

He said regulating the business would put a significant burden on his department and the planning department.


NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: reporterherald.com
Author: Jackie Hutchins
Copyright: 2010 Loveland Publishing Co.
Contact: http://www.reporterherald.com/customerservice.asp
Website: Dispensaries illegal in unincorporated areas, 8/24/2010 - Reporter-Herald, Loveland, Colo.


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