Pubdate: Wed, 07 Apr 2010 Source: Tribune, The (Greeley, CO) Copyright: 2010sThe Greeley Publishing Co. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/2T4s2YlD Website: http://www.greeleytribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3165 Note: Note: typically publishes LTEs from circulation area only Author: Sherrie Peif Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries WINDSOR VOTERS SAY NO TO MORE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES Windsor -- Windsor Town Board members wanted to hear what residents had to say about medical marijuana dispensaries in their town. Tuesday night, they heard it loud and clear. By a margin of 2,609 votes -- 3,514 yes to 905 no -- residents said they want to ban any additional medical marijuana dispensaries in town. "The voters have stated that they don't want any more than the two that are here, and I can live with that," Mayor John Vazquez said. "We wanted to see what the people wanted as opposed to seven individuals arbitrarily making the call on that." The question, which was put on the ballot by the town board, asked residents if they wanted "any more" dispensaries in town until there was state legislation that directly indicated a prohibition of the industry was unconstitutional. The question was phrased to say "any more" because board members didn't want a straight up or down ban vote for fear it would imply they were willing to shut down existing businesses. At-large board member Michael Kelly specifically cited a Centennial judge who ordered that city to allow a dispensary to reopen after officials shut it down because it violated federal laws. Regardless of how opposed the residents are to the industry, the final decision still rests with town board members, as the ballot question was nonbinding. But Vazquez said the board always was pretty clear that they would take serious what the residents wanted. "I don't think there was ever any intention to ignore the results," Vazquez said. "We just wanted to make sure we were doing the will of the people, and that just validates the will. Until there's something that tells us we have to do something different, we can proceed comfortably with this decision. I feel comfortable knowing that if we get sued, I'm expressing the desire of the people." Tina Valenti, co-owner of In Harmony Wellness, said she and partner Derek Cumings were interested in the results, but they were comfortable with state of their business regardless of how the votes came in. The issue of medical marijuana dispensaries has been a contentious one since several applications for sales tax licenses started to pour into Town Hall in the fall. In June, In Harmony opened at near the intersection of Interstate 25 and Colo. 392. The business remained quiet with no reports of problems from Windsor police. It remains that way today. But by November, eight new applications had been filed, and one more dispensary opened its doors in downtown, so town staff decided to take it to the board for guidance. On Dec. 16, the board passed an emergency moratorium stopping any more businesses from opening until they could put regulations in place. That moratorium was due to expire in March, but the board extended it into June so newly elected board members would have a chance to get familiar with the issue, and it would give them a chance to wait on pending legislation at the state level. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom