Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jan 2013
Source: Fort Collins Coloradoan (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Fort Collins Coloradoan
Contact: http://www.coloradoan.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.coloradoan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1580
Author: Ashley Keesis-Wood

MARIJUANA DISCUSSION CONTINUES

The impacts of Amendment 64 have not yet been felt in Windsor, but
that doesn't mean it hasn't been considered at the town board.

During the Jan. 14 informal work session, the town board got a preview
of next week's longer work session discussion about the new ordinance,
and discussed the merits of placing a moratorium on the industry in
Windsor

"We got beat up last time," said board member Robert Bishop-Cotner,
referring to the board's efforts to craft an ordinance to police the
medical marijuana industry. The ordinance ended up being overridden
when Windsor voters banned medical marijuana dispensaries and
operations in town limits in November 2010. "I want to wait and see
what the state does."

Amendment 64 legalizes the possession and use of marijuana for
recreational purposes in Colorado. It has not gone into effect in
Windsor yet.

"Next week's discussion is just about what the law is and what it
isn't, some immediate concerns we have, timelines and markers of
things you want to be aware of regarding the amendment, the
legislature's work and the commission's work," said Town Manager Kelly
Arnold. "You may want regular monthly updates from Ian (McCargar, town
attorney) to keep up with those."

Governor John Hickenlooper created a commission in December to study
the amendment and recommend action to the state. The work is ongoing
at this time.

McCargar's concern, he said, related to the line between private and
public consumption and use of marijuana.

"The growth and industrial sides of the industry require a state
license," he said. "The private can't be regulated; we can't regulate
a guy having five of his friends come to his house to smoke pot. But
at what point does use in a private setting become an area of concern?"

McCargar pointed to Denver's Club 64, a members-only club that allows
patrons to smoke marijuana, as the kind of example he was concerned
about.

"If a club was to open its doors in Windsor and you decide you don't
want them at all, or in particular locations, then we're playing
catch-up," he said. "That's what concerns me most."

Mayor John Vazquez did not want to be in that position.

"I don't think it's inappropriate to say time-out until the state has
figured it out and we've had a chance to put our policy together," he
said, advocating for a moratorium on marijuana operations in Windsor.
"It's what the community would expect."

McCargar said he wasn't sure a moratorium would be effective against
the members-only private club model.

"It's still private, because there's a membership criteria component,"
he said.

Vazquez said he felt the board had to act.

"This community was not ready for medical marijuana, and they
certainly are not ready for this," he said.

And even though both Weld and Larimer counties passed Amendment 64
overall, voters in Windsor specifically did not.

Town Clerk Patti Garcia provided results for Windsor voters from both
counties, but warned they might not be totally accurate.

"Depending on the precinct lines, votes could be picked up that aren't
truly in Windsor," Garcia wrote in an email. "Both Weld and Larimer
County noted that the number of votes listed below are not 100 percent
accurate, but their report does provide a close estimate of the number
of votes registered for Windsor on Amendment 64.

Weld County's results showed the no votes outweighed yes votes by 625
votes. Larimer County was not as close, with the no votes outweighing
the yes votes by 871.

McCargar suggested that the board could consider some sort of
ordinance relating to bans based on zoning.

"You can't stop private activity, but you can say that if you want to
use your public storefront to host private activities such as the
clubs, you can only do so in certain areas of town," McCargar said.

McCargar will be presenting more information to the board during the
Jan. 21 work session.

[sidebar]

By the numbers:
Amendment 64 results from Weld County
Yes: 3,970
No: 4,595

Amendment 64 results from Larimer County
Yes: 1,481
No: 2,352

Estimated total for all of Windsor
Yes: 5,451
No: 6,947

Information provided courtesy of the Windsor Town Clerk's office
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D