Pubdate: Mon, 30 Nov 2009
Source: Daily Times-Call, The (Longmont, CO)
Copyright: 2009, The Daily Times-Call
Contact:  http://www.timescall.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1475

CITY COULD USE EXTENSION OF POT MORATORIUM

Yes, Longmont needs to pause and take a deep breath --  for about six
months -- before again considering the  approval of more medical
marijuana dispensaries. The  businesses are proliferating, cities
around the state  are faced with decisions about how to regulate them
(or  not), a Colorado Court of Appeals ruling brings into  question
what a "primary caregiver" is, and the  Colorado Legislature might
take up the specifics of  dispensaries in the 2010 session.

All recommend an extension of Longmont's current 90-day  moratorium on
the approval of licenses, but the key  reason is to await legislative
direction.

Staff rightly noted that "it would be beneficial for  city staff to
have an opportunity to review any  proposed legislation ... (allowing)
the city to develop  options that are in line with whatever policy
direction  the state Legislature defines."

Further, this extension will allow the city to gather  more public
input on the topic.

The council seems to have accepted the logic of the  staff's
assertion, agreeing unanimously to the  six-month freeze in an initial
vote on Tuesday.

Already, Longmont has approved seven marijuana  dispensaries, four
fewer than the number of pharmacies  in town. An eighth operator hopes
his application beat  the cutoff date for the existing 90-day freeze.
So  residents who carry medical marijuana cards are not  without
sources of the drug.

With too many questions unanswered, and too great an  opportunity for
abuse (the typical marijuana  card-holder is a man 40 or younger), the
state's  medical marijuana system desperately requires the  careful
consideration of lawmakers.

The city of Longmont knows that. Six months is not too  long to think
about this. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D