Voters in Las Animas County may get a say in the licensing, cultivation, dispensing and the sale of medical marijuana in the county.
The Las Animas County commission sent a letter Tuesday to the office of the county clerk and recorder advising that the board is contemplating a ballot measure for the November general election.
County Administrator Bill Cordova said Wednesday the question that may be put to voters would cover the broader aspects of medical marijuana.
"That includes the cultivation, sale, licensing, etc.," Cordova said.
"A formal decision hasn't been made yet. There is a requirement in the elections calendar that any elected body that is contemplating a ballot question has to give official notice to the county clerk and recorder so that's what the board did," Cordova said.
Cordova said the deadline to propose a ballot question is at the end of next month.
"This is in anticipation that we may need a ballot measure. There is no certainty that there will be a formal question on the ballot, but this at least sets the stage for it," Cordova said.
The county is currently under a moratorium on the licensing and permitting process of the industry.
The moratorium, which was unanimously approved by commissioners in last November, came as lawmakers were drafting legislation to regulate the blooming industry.
The moratorium lasts until November.
Last year, Trinidad City Council unanimously voted for an ordinance that prohibits the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.
Council members cited concerns about the abuse of marijuana and the ability to provide proper enforcement and regulations to the dispensaries.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
Author: ANTHONY A. MESTAS
Copyright: 2010 The Pueblo Chieftain
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
The Las Animas County commission sent a letter Tuesday to the office of the county clerk and recorder advising that the board is contemplating a ballot measure for the November general election.
County Administrator Bill Cordova said Wednesday the question that may be put to voters would cover the broader aspects of medical marijuana.
"That includes the cultivation, sale, licensing, etc.," Cordova said.
"A formal decision hasn't been made yet. There is a requirement in the elections calendar that any elected body that is contemplating a ballot question has to give official notice to the county clerk and recorder so that's what the board did," Cordova said.
Cordova said the deadline to propose a ballot question is at the end of next month.
"This is in anticipation that we may need a ballot measure. There is no certainty that there will be a formal question on the ballot, but this at least sets the stage for it," Cordova said.
The county is currently under a moratorium on the licensing and permitting process of the industry.
The moratorium, which was unanimously approved by commissioners in last November, came as lawmakers were drafting legislation to regulate the blooming industry.
The moratorium lasts until November.
Last year, Trinidad City Council unanimously voted for an ordinance that prohibits the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.
Council members cited concerns about the abuse of marijuana and the ability to provide proper enforcement and regulations to the dispensaries.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
Author: ANTHONY A. MESTAS
Copyright: 2010 The Pueblo Chieftain
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
