A majority of City Council brushed off a request Monday night to let city voters decide whether or not to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, choosing instead to start looking at licensing regulations in July.
Councilwoman Judy Weaver asked that those licensing regulations be delayed until November and that city voters be asked whether they want to allow the marijuana shops in the city.
Her argument was that a majority of Pueblo County voters rejected the state constitutional amendment in 2000 that legalized the use of marijuana for a short list of medical conditions. In that election, more than 28,000 county voters rejected the amendment while more than 24,000 voted for it.
"I feel strongly that our voters ought to be consulted on whether they want these dispensaries in Pueblo," she said. Weaver got support for her amendment from Councilwoman Vera Ortegon and Councilman Chris Kaufman.
But a majority – Council President Larry Atencio and Councilmen Leroy Garcia, Steve Nawrocki and Ray Aguilera – voted against that idea, saying state voters had approved medical marijuana in the 2000 election.
"How many times are we gonna vote on this?" Aguilera asked, saying the issue was an uncomfortable one for council and the city should move forward with regulations.
Garcia said the public isn't asked to vote on the appropriateness of other drugs and medications.
Nawrocki, a cancer survivor, said he'd been encouraged by several local oncologists to move forward with allowing dispensaries in the city.
On the second question of extending the city moratorium on licensing medical pot dispensaries until July 27, that passed on a 6-1 vote, with Kaufman continuing his opposition.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
Author: PETER ROPER
Copyright: 2010 The Pueblo Chieftain
Councilwoman Judy Weaver asked that those licensing regulations be delayed until November and that city voters be asked whether they want to allow the marijuana shops in the city.
Her argument was that a majority of Pueblo County voters rejected the state constitutional amendment in 2000 that legalized the use of marijuana for a short list of medical conditions. In that election, more than 28,000 county voters rejected the amendment while more than 24,000 voted for it.
"I feel strongly that our voters ought to be consulted on whether they want these dispensaries in Pueblo," she said. Weaver got support for her amendment from Councilwoman Vera Ortegon and Councilman Chris Kaufman.
But a majority – Council President Larry Atencio and Councilmen Leroy Garcia, Steve Nawrocki and Ray Aguilera – voted against that idea, saying state voters had approved medical marijuana in the 2000 election.
"How many times are we gonna vote on this?" Aguilera asked, saying the issue was an uncomfortable one for council and the city should move forward with regulations.
Garcia said the public isn't asked to vote on the appropriateness of other drugs and medications.
Nawrocki, a cancer survivor, said he'd been encouraged by several local oncologists to move forward with allowing dispensaries in the city.
On the second question of extending the city moratorium on licensing medical pot dispensaries until July 27, that passed on a 6-1 vote, with Kaufman continuing his opposition.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
Author: PETER ROPER
Copyright: 2010 The Pueblo Chieftain
