Pubdate: Wed, 25 May 2011
Source: Norwood Post, The (CO)
Copyright: 2011 Telluride Daily Planet
Contact:  http://telluridenews.com/norwood_post/front/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5266
Author: Ellen Metric
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MORATORIUM HOLDS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSING

Norwood Town Board Still Undecided

While almost 20 citizens turned out to comment on=20
the issue, it became clear rather quickly at last=20
Thursday's work session that members of the Town=20
Board of Trustees were concerned about being put=20
in legal jeopardy if the board chose to allow the=20
operation of medical marijuana businesses.

Recent memorandums from the Federal Government=20
warn that officials "would consider civil and=20
criminal penalties for large-scale operations," said Town Attorney Herb=
 McHarg.

While Federal law still prohibits such operations=20
-- that hasn't changed " many states including=20
Colorado have passed laws allowing medical=20
marijuana businesses. However, in response to=20
those warnings, some states have already begun to=20
reassess their medical marijuana provisions.

McHarg said that he didn't think it likely such=20
action would be taken against anyone complying=20
with state law. "If you asked several attorneys, they would say it's=
 unlikely.=80

However, The Associated Press recently reported=20
that warnings from U.S. attorneys to officials in=20
Washington led Gov. Chris Gregoire to veto a=20
proposal that would have created licensed marijuana dispensaries.

Norwood Trustee Rich Sanchez said, "It would take=20
a lot of convincing to support licensing if the=20
state is not lined up with the Feds. Why take the risk at this point?

Colorado received a similar warning, and the=20
state's response will affect municipal laws. A=20
statewide moratorium on submission, acceptance,=20
processing and approval of all applications for=20
such businesses was to have ended on July 1 this=20
year, but is now slated to be extended to July 1,=20
2012 with the passage of HB 11-1043, which is=20
awaiting the governor's signature. Norwood's Town=20
Board had issued a similar moratorium in October=20
2010, giving its members time to research the=20
issue and talk it over with the public.

The town board can decide to prohibit medical=20
marijuana facilities at any time under the state=20
medical marijuana code's "local option.

Norwood Mayor Kerry Welch said, however, that "we=20
wanted to hear from the people." While the board=20
could have run a special election to allow the=20
public to vote on the licensing or prohibition,=20
they chose to hold public work sessions, in part to save money.

While a few citizens present expressed strong=20
support of medical marijuana facilities within=20
the town limits, and two expressed some=20
ambivalence, the majority present spoke out=20
against allowing such business inside the town=20
for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the issue of addiction.

"We have enough alcohol problems as it is," said=20
citizen Joann Mueller. "I do not think our town=20
needs a licensed marijuana business.

Barbara Kearney read a letter she penned with her=20
husband Dick. Together they run The Walrus=20
Foundation, which works in rural communities to=20
arrest the cycle of addiction. She concluded the=20
letter saying, "Let's not contribute to the downward spiral [of addiction].

The issue of law enforcement also came up.=20
Norwood Town Marshal Mike Wilkerson said that=20
Grand Junction reported crime had risen 16=20
percent since allowing medical marijuana=20
businesses to operate within the city limits, and=20
has recently shut down all operations.

The cost so far to taxpayers was also questioned.=20
"I think most of the voters who voted for=20
[Amendment 20] in 2000 had no idea it would soak=20
up this many tax dollars." Norwood Southern=20
Baptist Church Pastor Joe Bowman said, "I'm=20
disappointed to see you putting this much time in=20
this; I think you're wasting money.

Mayor Welch responded that the work the board had=20
done was necessary. "We have to go through this=20
process." The town has spent "between $2,500 and=20
$3,000 on this issue so far," said Town Administrator Patti Grafmyer.

McHarg also responded, saying that the board had=20
to be ready for anything. "There could be a=20
citizen initiative, and ... if you were not=20
prepared, you could end up having a business that=20
isn't as heavily regulated as it could be.

Norwood could proceed to prohibit medical=20
marijuana businesses at any time, including at=20
the next regular Town Board meeting on June 8.=20
The board could also decide to extend its=20
existing moratorium until June 30, 2012 in order=20
to consider whether to adopt licensing regulations.