Pubdate: Sat, 14 Aug 2010
Source: Aspen Times, The  (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Aspen Times
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/zKpMPhQ7
Website: http://www.aspentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3784
Author: Scott Condon

GROUP APPLIES TO RE-IGNITE BASALT'S LONE POT DISPENSARY

Businessmen Also Explore Starting A Grow Operation For Medical
Marijuana

BASALT -- Three Basalt businessmen want to re-open the town's only
medical marijuana dispensary and they are exploring options for adding
a pot growing operation as well.

David Schoenberger, Doug Olson and Dr. Dave Slater applied for a
license to open Basalt Alternative Medicine in a space in the former
WIN Institute building where a medical marijuana dispensary previously
operated. That dispensary closed after its partners, including WIN
Health Center founder Dr. Dave Jensen, ran into financial
difficulties. That has left midvalley residents without a homegrown
dispensary for medical marijuana for about four months.

Schoenberger, chief executive officer of Basalt Alternative Medicine
LLC, said they hope to open the dispensary as soon as possible. They
applied for a business license and medical marijuana facility license
from the Basalt town government on June 30. They also beat a deadline
to apply for a license from the state on July 1 before a one-year
moratorium on new licenses takes effect.

Town officials said the licenses for Basalt Alternative Medicine are
"pending" during review.

The group's application listed Jensen as secretary, but Schoenberger
said that information is out of date. Jensen is no longer a partner in
the new venture, according to Schoenberger.

The group's application for a license for a medical marijuana facility
stated they want approval for a "medical marijuana farm" as well as an
"accessory medical marijuana production facility associated with a
medical marijuana farm" in addition to the dispensary.

Schoenberger and Olson attempted to talk to the Basalt Town Council on
Tuesday night about the growing operation, but Town Attorney Tom Smith
interrupted and said it was inappropriate for the board to talk about
a pending application in an unscheduled setting.

Schoenberger said Wednesday he and Olson simply wanted to inform the
board about their plan for a grow operation and seek a solution with
the board. Basalt's regulations on grow operations limit them to lands
zoned "developing resource," of which there are few within the town
boundaries. A grow operation is allowed only as a special use, so it
would require Town Council review.

Schoenberger said his group wants to start a grow operation "on the
perimeter" of Basalt. He didn't want to disclose the exact site for
security reasons.

No land use application has been submitted for a pot growing
operation, according to town officials. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D