Jacob Bell
New Member
Existing medical marijuana businesses in Fort Collins received a tentative green light Tuesday from the City Council to continue operating.
But the debate over where marijuana businesses may operate is not settled just yet. Another round of outreach to receive public input on the issue could end up determining which businesses may stay open.
Council members voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance that would "grandfather" all 19 existing marijuana centers that have provisional licenses to operate in the city, even though only two of the businesses meet all of the city's requirements for being specific distances from facilities such as schools, parks, child-care centers and churches.
The council directed city staff members to notify neighbors of marijuana centers that the businesses may be allowed to continue operating before the ordinance is considered on second reading scheduled March 15.
Council member Wade Troxell cast the lone dissenting vote against the grandfathering ordinance. But other council members said they may change their minds on second reading, depending on what they hear from those who might be directly impacted by the presence of a marijuana center.
The council might have to consider permitting the businesses on a case-by-case basis, said Council member Lisa Poppaw, but more public outreach is needed. "I want to know we are making an informed decision here," she said.
Troxell said the rules for where marijuana businesses may locate, including distances from child-oriented facilities and residential areas, are intended to protect the community and should be followed.
"We came up with the separators for a reason," he said.
But Council member Ben Manvel said medical marijuana, access to which is permitted by the state constitution, is already in the community. Overly restricting access to it won't change that, he said.
"It's not going to go away if we drive it underground," he said.
The council unanimously approved two other ordinances related to medical marijuana businesses. One ordinance maintains the distance requirements for future dispensaries.
But the council removed from the ordinance a regulation that would have capped the number of medical marijuana centers in the city at 23.
The proposed cap was an attempt to keep the city from becoming the center for wholesale medical marijuana in Northern Colorado, said Capt. Jerry Schiager of Fort Collins police. Other cities, including Loveland, Windsor and Greeley have banned marijuana businesses.
But council members said they could not support the cap since no other industry faces similar limitations.
Prior to their votes, owners of local marijuana businesses urged council members to approve the grandfathering provision. The businesses have worked hard to be good neighbors, said dispensary owner Nick Dice.
That effort has included educating the community about medical marijuana and being "quick to call police" if shops notice illegal activity near them, he said.
"We're really interested in trying to please the community," he said.
Shutting down the dispensaries would put more marijuana into the illegal market, Dice said.
But some opponents of the grandfathering proposal called on the council to stick to the rules it set. The presence of so many marijuana shops in the city is harmful to the city's youth, said Nancy Smith, director of the Center for Family Care. "Please take a strong stand to protect our youth and ultimately to protect our city," Smith said.
News Hawk- Guitarman313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: coloradoan.com
Author: Kevin Duggan
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: ©2011 coloradoan.com
Website: Fort Collins allows medical marijuana shops to stay open
But the debate over where marijuana businesses may operate is not settled just yet. Another round of outreach to receive public input on the issue could end up determining which businesses may stay open.
Council members voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance that would "grandfather" all 19 existing marijuana centers that have provisional licenses to operate in the city, even though only two of the businesses meet all of the city's requirements for being specific distances from facilities such as schools, parks, child-care centers and churches.
The council directed city staff members to notify neighbors of marijuana centers that the businesses may be allowed to continue operating before the ordinance is considered on second reading scheduled March 15.
Council member Wade Troxell cast the lone dissenting vote against the grandfathering ordinance. But other council members said they may change their minds on second reading, depending on what they hear from those who might be directly impacted by the presence of a marijuana center.
The council might have to consider permitting the businesses on a case-by-case basis, said Council member Lisa Poppaw, but more public outreach is needed. "I want to know we are making an informed decision here," she said.
Troxell said the rules for where marijuana businesses may locate, including distances from child-oriented facilities and residential areas, are intended to protect the community and should be followed.
"We came up with the separators for a reason," he said.
But Council member Ben Manvel said medical marijuana, access to which is permitted by the state constitution, is already in the community. Overly restricting access to it won't change that, he said.
"It's not going to go away if we drive it underground," he said.
The council unanimously approved two other ordinances related to medical marijuana businesses. One ordinance maintains the distance requirements for future dispensaries.
But the council removed from the ordinance a regulation that would have capped the number of medical marijuana centers in the city at 23.
The proposed cap was an attempt to keep the city from becoming the center for wholesale medical marijuana in Northern Colorado, said Capt. Jerry Schiager of Fort Collins police. Other cities, including Loveland, Windsor and Greeley have banned marijuana businesses.
But council members said they could not support the cap since no other industry faces similar limitations.
Prior to their votes, owners of local marijuana businesses urged council members to approve the grandfathering provision. The businesses have worked hard to be good neighbors, said dispensary owner Nick Dice.
That effort has included educating the community about medical marijuana and being "quick to call police" if shops notice illegal activity near them, he said.
"We're really interested in trying to please the community," he said.
Shutting down the dispensaries would put more marijuana into the illegal market, Dice said.
But some opponents of the grandfathering proposal called on the council to stick to the rules it set. The presence of so many marijuana shops in the city is harmful to the city's youth, said Nancy Smith, director of the Center for Family Care. "Please take a strong stand to protect our youth and ultimately to protect our city," Smith said.
News Hawk- Guitarman313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: coloradoan.com
Author: Kevin Duggan
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: ©2011 coloradoan.com
Website: Fort Collins allows medical marijuana shops to stay open
