[420 Girl]

Colorado Springs voters will not get a chance to decide the fate of the 176 medical marijuana dispensaries and grow operations in the city this November, but they may still have a shot in April.

Recently enacted Colorado House Bill 1284 allows communities in Colorado to regulate medical marijuana businesses, either through local government or a public vote.

A ballot question proposed by councilman Darryl Glenn at City Council’s informal meeting Monday would have asked residents to vote on whether the dispensaries, which have blossomed in the community in the last two years, should be banned. But the proposal failed to get the support of a majority of council members.

“We have heard a lot of dialogue in the community for and against, and I think it is important that the citizens’ voice be heard,” said Glenn, who is running for El Paso County commissioner.

Council members Jan Martin, Randy Purvis and Vice Mayor Larry Small voiced support for the vote, even though not all of them support a ban. Other members sat in silent dissent.
Last week councilman Sean Paige said Glenn’s proposal would just “get the city entangled in a contentious ballot battle and costly lawsuit”

Other members urged that the public should have its say.

“The community wants to have this discussion,” said Small. “They deserve to have this debate. I think it will come to a vote sooner or later.”

A citizens group trying to get a similar question on the ballot this fall failed to get enough signatures but could try again in the spring.

In the meantime, the council is moving forward with land-use ordinances that would regulate dispensaries in a similar fashion to liquor stores. The city budget office has projected that sales tax, applications and license fees for city dispensaries could generate $1.2 million for the city in 2011.


NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: gazette.com
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Website: Dispensary ban question will not be on November ballot | springs, colorado, glenn - Breaking News - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO


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