The Hayden Town Council said "no" to medical marijuana dispensaries for a second time Thursday. After hearing options about how to address dispensaries in town limits, the council directed Town Manager Russ Martin to draft an ordinance that would prohibit medical marijuana establishments in Hayden.
Town Council members in May unanimously voted to not amend the town's land-use code to permit a medical marijuana dispensary in Hayden's historic downtown district.
The four options Martin presented to the Town Council included: doing nothing because the land-use code doesn't currently allow dispensaries; create an ordinance to allow dispensaries; create an ordinance to prohibit dispensaries; or let residents vote to decide where to allow or prohibit dispensaries.
Nine members of the community attended the meeting Thursday, and four spoke in opposition of any ordinance that would allow dispensaries in Hayden.
"I have faith in you as a citizen here that you will take care of us in this town," resident Sylvia Walker said. "I don't want it here."
In his presentation of the four options, Martin said his preference would be that Hayden create an ordinance prohibiting dispensaries, given the response from several community members and the Town Council in May.
He said becoming a home-rule municipality gave Hayden the ability to pass a prohibition ordinance regardless of the passage of Colorado House Bill 1284, which allows municipalities to ban dispensaries.
Martin said taking the decision to voters would cost the town between $1,500 and $2,000.
"That's why we're elected. There's no need for this to go to a public vote," Town Council member Tom Rogalski said. "There is a process in place if the public wants to bring this to the ballot."
Martin said he would work to draft a prohibition ordinance that would prohibit dispensaries, grow operations and any type of establishment with marijuana-infused products, such as cookies and brownies. But Martin said licensed medical marijuana patients still would be able to grow their own plants.
Town Council members will consider the prohibition ordinance at their next meeting July 15.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today
Author: Jack Weinstein
Contact: Steamboat Pilot & Today
Copyright: 2010 Steamboat Pilot & Today
Website: Hayden Town Council votes 'no' to dispensaries
Town Council members in May unanimously voted to not amend the town's land-use code to permit a medical marijuana dispensary in Hayden's historic downtown district.
The four options Martin presented to the Town Council included: doing nothing because the land-use code doesn't currently allow dispensaries; create an ordinance to allow dispensaries; create an ordinance to prohibit dispensaries; or let residents vote to decide where to allow or prohibit dispensaries.
Nine members of the community attended the meeting Thursday, and four spoke in opposition of any ordinance that would allow dispensaries in Hayden.
"I have faith in you as a citizen here that you will take care of us in this town," resident Sylvia Walker said. "I don't want it here."
In his presentation of the four options, Martin said his preference would be that Hayden create an ordinance prohibiting dispensaries, given the response from several community members and the Town Council in May.
He said becoming a home-rule municipality gave Hayden the ability to pass a prohibition ordinance regardless of the passage of Colorado House Bill 1284, which allows municipalities to ban dispensaries.
Martin said taking the decision to voters would cost the town between $1,500 and $2,000.
"That's why we're elected. There's no need for this to go to a public vote," Town Council member Tom Rogalski said. "There is a process in place if the public wants to bring this to the ballot."
Martin said he would work to draft a prohibition ordinance that would prohibit dispensaries, grow operations and any type of establishment with marijuana-infused products, such as cookies and brownies. But Martin said licensed medical marijuana patients still would be able to grow their own plants.
Town Council members will consider the prohibition ordinance at their next meeting July 15.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today
Author: Jack Weinstein
Contact: Steamboat Pilot & Today
Copyright: 2010 Steamboat Pilot & Today
Website: Hayden Town Council votes 'no' to dispensaries
