[420 Girl]

Steamboat Springs,Co. — Two local men have opened a medical marijuana dispensary in western Steamboat, just ahead of an emergency moratorium on such businesses to be considered by the Steamboat Springs City Council tonight.

Kevin Fisher — who is running the business with Ryan Fisher, no relation — said Monday the dispensary is “technically open” in the 2700 block of Downhill Plaza. The by-appointment-only dispensary has made a few transactions, Kevin Fisher said, but still is completing a tenant finish and won’t be completely open until later this week.

The city’s police and planning staff will present the emergency moratorium tonight. They said a moratorium would give them time to craft an ordinance governing dispensaries. Public Safety Director J.D. Hays said it should take about two weeks.

“I just think there needs to be regulations in place before they establish their business,” said Hays, who said the resulting ordinance governing dispensaries would be similar to the city’s adult-oriented business ordinance, which provides rules for businesses such as strip clubs and adult book stores.

“I don’t see this as a whole lot different than that,” Hays said. “Just like you have regulations for an adult book store or a liquor store, you should have them for a marijuana dispensary.”

Kevin Fisher said Aug. 5 that he thought a moratorium was unnecessary and that it was unfair to compare a dispensary to an adult-oriented business.

“There’s absolutely no correlation there,” he said. “This is a legitimate remedy for people who suffer from a wide range of medical issues. … You have to get rid of the stigma.” Colorado’s Amendment 20 made the medical use of marijuana legal, with restrictions and a doctor’s recommendation, beginning in 2001. There is little oversight of dispensaries at the state level. Other Western Slope communities — such as Basalt, Frisco, Silverthorne and Breckenridge — have approved similar moratoriums. Steamboat City Council members, however, responded coolly when the idea was presented to them two weeks ago without prior notice.

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