Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2009
Source: Vail Daily (CO)
Copyright: 2009 Vail Daily
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wo3Ts7AI
Website: http://www.vaildaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3233
Author: Sarah Mausolf
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

POT SHOPS SURVIVING IN VAIL VALLEY

Five Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Are Currently
Operating In The Vail Valley, Industry Insiders Say

AIL VALLEY, Colorado -- They sell pot brownies and glass smoking
devices. They keep marijuana plants under lights. They court skiers
with busted knees and locals with multiple sclerosis in Colorado's
Vail Valley.

In all, five medical marijuana dispensaries are currently operating in
the Vail Valley, industry insiders say.

And applications for two more dispensaries will come before the Eagle
town planning commission Jan. 5.

The question on many people's minds: will the pot shop trend take root
or go up in smoke?

When medical marijuana shops started to appear here this past summer,
local towns took stands on them. Vail, Minturn, Avon and Gypsum do not
allow dispensaries, citing federal laws forbidding them. Eagle allows
dispensaries as a special use, but the shops have to get a medical
marijuana permit, similar to a liquor license.

With so many towns banning dispensaries, unincorporated Eagle County
has become the popular spot for pot. Eagle-Vail and Edwards are home
to the existing dispensaries. State law prevents Eagle County from
regulating medical marijuana shops, county attorney Bryan Treu has
said. County officials passed temporary zoning laws limiting where the
dispensaries can operate.

After existing on the fringes of the law for years, medical marijuana
sellers are trying to prove that they're here for a legitimate cause:
to help patients.

Scott Ziegler, the owner of Holistic Healthcare Dispensary in Edwards,
said medical marijuana helps with his Parkinson's disease. He wants to
educate people about the drug's benefits.

We've had some people say that's really helped with the pain," he
said. "I had one lady who was addicted to Oxcycodone. I've gotten her
completely off of it. She said I turned her whole life around."

With heated sidewalks and a wheelchair lift, his dispensary caters to
the handicapped.

Out of the 90 patients we have right now, over 80 percent are over the
age of 50," he said. "We don't sell to the people that are wanting to
use it just to get high."

One point of frustration for Ziegler is that the state does not
inspect the dispensaries, even as the stores continue to
proliferate.

Right now, with the way the economy is, everybody is trying to get
their foot in the door, just because so many people don't have an
income any more," he said. "I think it's going to be kind of like the
wild, wild west until they have somebody from the state of Colorado
start monitoring them."

Here's a look at dispensaries in the Vail Valley:

Herbal Elements, Eagle-Vail When opened: end of August

Where: 51 Eagle Road (at Highway 6 and Eagle Road)

Phone: 970-949-7008

Sells: Fifteen to 18 strains of medical
marijuana, sweets (such as cookies) and tea made with medical marijuana

Details: Specializes in "clones," medical
marijuana plants customers can take home

Atmosphere: Lobby looks like a bit like a medical
office, with some definite exceptions: Vintage
record covers, local artwork and a large poster
featuring marijuana leafs with the store's logo
hang on the walls. One room houses marijuana.

Rocky Mountain High Pain Management and Wellness Center, Edwards When
opened: Sept. 25

Where: 0105 Edwards Village Blvd., unit C-104
(between Prestige cleaners and Bottle & Cork)

Phone: 970-926-4408

Sells: Twenty to 30 strains of medical marijuana,
baked goods made with medical marijuana (such as
brownies, lemon bars), glassware, massage, acupuncture

Details: In-house doctor, portion of the profits benefit children with cancer

Atmosphere: An antique wooden desk and large
flatscreen TV decorate the lobby. The back room
boasts a large glass cases filled with fancy smoking devices.

Tree Line Premier Dispensary, Eagle-Vail When opened:
mid-September

Where: 40801 Highway 6, Suite 215 (above Paddy's Sport Bar and Grill)

Phone: 970-949-1887

Sells: 18 strains of medical marijuana, candies,
baked goods made with medical marijuana (such as ginger snaps)

Details: Plans to develop healthy, savory foods made with medical marijuana

Atmosphere: Lounge features an L-shaped couch and
leather armchair, occasionally with reggae music
playing in the background. Vintage record covers
hang on the wall of the bud tender's office.

Holistic Healthcare Dispensary, Edwards When opened: About two months
ago

Where: In the former Eagle County Sheriff's
Office substation in the Edwards Plaza (below Asian Spice Bistro)

Phone: 970-569-4202

Sells: About five strains of medical marijuana,
baked goods made with medical marijuana (banana bread, brownies), tinctures

Details: Lounge with wifi

Atmosphere: With covered parking, heated
sidewalks and a lift to carry wheelchairs up the
stairs to the bathroom, the dispensary caters to
the handicapped. The lobby features a large
L-shaped couch and TV. Jars with free snacks greet customers at the entrance.

New Hope Wellness Center, Edwards When opened: August

Where: 210 Edwards Village Blvd, B-110 (Edwards commercial park)

Phone: 970-569-3701

Sells: Twenty strains of medical marijuana, baked
good made with medical marijuana (such as Chex
mix, zucchini loaf), plans to develop quiche and ice cream made with marijuana.

Details: Dispensary helps customers find other
services, like grocery delivery or lawn care, at discount prices.

Atmosphere: Colorful local art hangs in the
lobby. Glass cases house baked goods and glass
bowls. Lights hover over medical marijuana "clones." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D