Pubdate: Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Source: Aspen Times Weekly (CO)
Copyright: 2009 Aspen Times
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/zKpMPhQ7
Website: http://www.aspentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3784
Author: Caitlin Row
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

DILLON TO CONSIDER MEDICAL MARIJUANA BAN

DILLON, Colo. -- To ban medical marijuana dispensaries  from Dillon, 
Town Council members are moving forward on  an ordinance that 
prohibits giving licenses to  businesses deemed a public nuisance, or 
that violate  state and/or federal law.

The ordinance will be reviewed with a public hearing  Tuesday at 
Dillon Town Hall starting at 6 p.m. The  ordinance was already 
approved at first reading, but it  must be approved again for 
regulations to take effect.

Mayor Barbara Davis said she heard that some people  will be coming 
to the town meeting who have a need for  medical marijuana, and who 
would like to see a  dispensary closer to their home.

"Council members need to make a decision on what the  public is 
saying," Davis said. "I still struggle with  disallowing it in our 
town, but I'm open to council's  ideas, and it's important for us to 
weigh in on the  public testimony."

The Dillon council rejected an ordinance earlier this  year that 
would regulate medical marijuana businesses  within town limits, and 
requested that town staff draft  new regulations to keep dispensaries 
out of town. A  majority of Dillon's council members have said they 
don't approve of dispensaries, and that federal laws  should be 
upheld in any business practice. Council  members cited concerns 
about abuse, need and lack of  state regulations as reasons for not 
moving forward on  approving regulations.

The town of Dillon currently has a moratorium on  medical marijuana 
dispensaries in place; it wil expire  Feb. 13. Any action taken to 
officially bar  dispensaries, or to come up with a new set of 
regulations, must take place before that date.

In Summit County, regulations for dispensaries have  already been 
approved in Silverthorne, Frisco and  Breckenridge.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom