Medical Marijuana Moratorium In The City Pipeline

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A proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in Grand Junction is prompting city leaders to consider a one-year moratorium on the licensing and permitting process of the industry.

The City Council is scheduled to set a hearing date on the issue during its 7 p.m. meeting today at City Hall. The hearing is probably going to be held Nov. 16, officials said.

The proposal, if adopted, would prohibit the issuance of new business permits or sales tax licenses for any business or activity “that is known as or functions as a medical marijuana dispensary … or a medical marijuana primary caregiver” for 12 months.

The idea is to give the city some time to figure out how to regulate the booming industry, said City Councilman Gregg Palmer.

“The first one (medical marijuana dispensary) that came out sort of caught us by surprise. We didn't have any regulations for it,” he said. “Then all of the sudden they are popping up everywhere.”

A city legislative committee recommended the moratorium last week after Palmer asked the group to take a look at the issue. The legislative committee is comprised of members of the City Council.

“I just think it's time we take a look at it,” Palmer said.

The move comes on the heels of action taken by other cities in Colorado. Cities that have medical marijuana-related moratoriums in place, include Craig, Durango, Kremmling and Montrose.

Dispensaries have sprouted across Colorado in recent months as the rules that guide the medical marijuana industry have become clearer.

The issue stems from the November 2000 general election when state voters passed Amendment 20.

The amendment implemented a medical marijuana registry program, which lays out guidelines. That was followed by a decision from the Colorado Board of Health, who approved rules and regulations for the program in March 2001.

Registration began a short while later, the state board said.

In order for adults, 18 years and older, to receive a medical marijuana card, they need to secure written documentation from their physician. The documentation must note that a debilitating medical condition exists, and the patient might benefit from the medical use of marijuana.

Some other conditions do apply. The conditions are somewhat similar for minors.

Patients can only posses up to 2 ounces of usable, dry marijuana. However, the patient or a designated caregiver can grow six marijuana plants with no more than three flowering at one time.

Growers, who supply the cannabis to designated caregivers, typically cultivate the weed, which is sold to patients. The marijuana for Colorado patients is grown in the state.

There were 393 patients registered in Mesa County as of July 31, according to the latest data from the state health board.

The city of Grand Junction only requires that an individual have a business permit and sales tax license to operate a dispensary. As of last week a total of 19 sales tax licenses had been issued in Grand Junction, said city tax enforcement officer Brian Holman.

The entire city licensing activity has taken place since April. Some is likely a result of a recent memorandum from the U.S. Department of Justice that appeared to defer to state law on the medical marijuana issue.

That effectively left cities to craft their own rules on how to regulate the industry within their borders.



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Source: Grand Junction Free Press
Author: WYATT HAUPT JR
Contact: Grand Junction Colorado | GJFreePress.com News
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