Pubdate: Thu, 07 Oct 2010
Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today, The (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Steamboat Pilot & Today
Contact: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/submit/letters/
Website: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1549
Author: Zach Fridell

YAMPA RESIDENTS TO VOTE ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS NEXT
YEAR

Steamboat Springs -- The Town of Yampa will take the issue of medical
marijuana to voters, possibly as soon as January.

Yampa Town Board members made the decision during their meeting
Wednesday night. It follows a Sept. 1 moratorium passed by the board
that prevents any medical marijuana-related businesses from opening
until July 1, 2011.

Town Clerk Janet Ray said Thurs - -day that Town Board members still
want to check on law enforcement issues and potential liability for
the town before the election is official.

"We're tentatively looking at the election in January, and (with the)
discussion on law enforcement, they want to wait until after the Nov.
2 election," she said, citing the potential for a new Routt County
sheriff.

A Sept. 15 meeting about medical marijuana at Yampa Town Hall drew a
large crowd and was described by trustee Tom Yackey as just the third
time Town Hall has drawn that many people in 33 years. The turnout was
much smaller Wednesday, Ray said, with just two audience members.

Ray said the Town Board will create the exact language for the ballot
issue in the coming months.

If town voters decide to allow medical marijuana businesses, the
moratorium likely would remain in place until the final regulations
could be determined, Ray said. A statewide moratorium also is in place
until July 1, 2011, for any new medical marijuana businesses.

Yampa had one medical marijuana business that sold marijuana and
marijuana tinctures, but the business closed.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D