Voters May Have Say In City's Marijuana Rules

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The Englewood City Council has delayed action on a ban on all aspects of the recreational marijuana industry in the city, and will consider placing a non-binding question before voters on the November ballot.

A bill to prohibit the recreational marijuana industry was on the April 1 council agenda, and the council appeared split 3-3 on the issue. Those opposing the ban said Englewood residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of Amendment 64 to legalize recreational marijuana and the council should follow the will of the people. Those favoring the ban said it simply would not allow any retail element of the recreational marijuana industry to open in Englewood.

The option of putting a non-binding question on the 2013 ballot was suggested. After further discussion, council members voted 5-1 to table the ban proposal, in order to have the city attorney bring a draft advisory ballot question to the April 15 council meeting for discussion. Council Member Joe Jefferson voted against the delay because he wanted the issue decided in the April 1 meeting.

Council Member Jill Wilson, who supported the ban at a March 18 study session, was absent from the regular council meeting.

The issue of banning the recreational marijuana industry came up at the March 18 session. By a consensus vote of 4-3, the council agreed to move forward with a proposal that would prohibit the establishment of marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, retail marijuana stores, marijuana bars and marijuana testing facilities anywhere in Englewood. The proposed legislation would have no impact on the three medical marijuana stores located in the city.

Jefferson objected to the proposal because 64.3 percent of Englewood residents voted in favor of Amendment 64. He raised the same issue at the April 1 meeting.

In both discussions, Council Member Rick Gillit said many constituents in his district want no retail facilities in the city.

He said Amendment 64 allows people to possess less than an ounce of marijuana for private use and to grow marijuana in their homes as long as they comply with rules. The state constitutional provision also allows local governmental agencies to ban other recreational operations.

On April 1, Jefferson, Mayor Randy Penn and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Woodward announced they opposed the proposed ban on the recreational marijuana industry in Englewood. Council Members Gillit and Linda Olson said they would vote for the ban, and Bob McCaslin had supported the ban at the study session.

However, after lengthy discussion, five council members decided to put off action on the ban in order to explore the possibility of the November ballot issue.

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News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: ourcoloradonews.com
Author: Tom Munds
Contact: tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
Website: Voters may have say in city
 
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