Pubdate: Thu, 20 Aug 2009
Source: Craig Daily Press, The (CO)
Copyright: 2009 The Craig Daily Press
Contact: http://www.craigdailypress.com/site/feedback
Website: http://www.craigdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2334
Author: Collin Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries

RESIDENTS REACT TO PROPOSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA  DISPENSARY

Upon hearing that a local man plans to open a medical  marijuana 
dispensary in Craig, residents and community  leaders seem split in 
their opinions.

Although many said they are concerned about keeping  marijuana away 
from children and those who would  consume it recreationally, they 
also expressed an open  mind toward marijuana's medical benefits.

Matt Beckett, director of the Moffat County Grand  Futures Prevention 
Coalition, said he would like to be  involved in city discussions 
about how to regulate  dispensaries but that he has seen medical 
marijuana's  benefits.

"We would want some requirements about responsible  ownership and 
making sure it was nowhere near schools  or places kids hang out," 
Beckett said. "Personally, I  don't have anything against the medical 
use of  marijuana. I had a grandfather that had cancer, and  they 
prescribed it for appetite. It definitely has  uses."

The Craig City Council plans to have two meetings about  the issue 
Tuesday evening, one during a public workshop  at 5:30 p.m. and 
another during its regular meeting at  7:30 p.m.

Shaun Hadley, the resident interested in opening a  local dispensary 
with his business partner from  Longmont, plans to address the 
council during its  regular meeting.

Both meetings will occur at Craig City Hall, 300 W.  Fourth St.

Other people besides Beckett plan to be involved in the process.

Doug Wood, pastor of Craig Christian Church, said he  thinks 
marijuana has medical uses, but not many.

Complicating the issue is that the state's regulatory  system makes 
it easy for someone to fraudulently obtain  marijuana, Wood said.

"If it's truly a medical situation, I wouldn't have a  problem with 
it," he said. "In different communities,  I've seen it abused in the past."

Wood added that he and the church plan to closely watch  what 
happens, and if it seems a dispensary isn't  necessary in Craig, he'd 
like the community to avoid  opening one.

Not all residents plan to be as involved, however.

Joel Sheridan, board chairman for Communities  Overcoming Meth Abuse, 
said his organization wants to  focus its efforts on methamphetamine 
and does not have  a position on medical marijuana.

"If we tried to tackle everything, we wouldn't be able  to do 
anything," Sheridan said.

He added that he personally thinks marijuana does not  seem to be as 
threatening to people, their families and  communities as meth, 
though he's also not convinced  marijuana has any medicinal value.

State Sen. Al White, R-Hayden, somewhat agreed with  Sheridan's view, 
but he said there is ample evidence  that marijuana can be dangerous 
as a gateway drug, as  well.

Either way, he does not plan to introduce any new  legislation during 
the 2010 session to further regulate  medicinal marijuana, though the 
current system seems to  put a burden on local communities.

The state has no regulations governing so-called  caregivers -- those 
selected by marijuana patients to  grow and supply their marijuana -- 
or dispensaries,  such as the one planned in Craig.

Since the State Board of Health rejected a motion July  20 to limit 
the number of marijuana patients one person  could have, larger scale 
dispensaries have popped up  across the state, said Mark Salley, 
Colorado Department  of Public Health and Environment spokesman.

Without a limit on the number of patients a caregiver  can supply, it 
seems to be more viable for caregivers  to open dispensary 
storefronts for larger numbers of  customers, Salley said.

White said he doesn't think the Legislature has the  power to do 
anything more with medical marijuana.

"I don't think we have the authority to regulate  something the 
federal government classifies as  illegal," the senator said.

At the same time, he knows marijuana dispensaries are  not a small issue.

"It seems like most towns across my district are  getting into the 
same thing," White said. "It's not  something unique to Craig. It's 
everywhere right now."

Medical marijuana itself is not new to Northwest  Colorado.

The Department of Health reports there are 12  registered marijuana 
patients in Moffat County, as well  as 34 in Routt County and seven 
in Rio Blanco County.

Although some Craig physicians did not return phone  calls or refused 
to comment, Dr. Joel Miller, of High  Country Medical, said he has 
recommended "a couple of  people" for medical marijuana in the past.

"If the person has the right indicators, those that are  listed in 
the law like glaucoma or pain, it works  really well," Miller said.

He added he thinks the state system allows many people  to consume 
marijuana recreationally instead of for  specific treatments.

Still, he said he thinks a local marijuana dispensary  could be 
valuable to some.

"It'd be a good idea for the people who need it,"  Miller said. "For 
them, it'd be a good thing."
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