Fremont County Approves Medical Marijuana Regulations

[User]

CANON CITY - Fremont County Commissioners passed temporary regulations Tuesday overseeing the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. The vote comes as many cities and counties in Colorado struggle to control the facilities until state lawmakers adopt a new law.

Commissioners approved the regulations with limited public comment after about 30 minutes. The regulations will remain temporary until two public hearings provide feedback to determine if the regulations will remain temporary or become permanent. The first public hearing is on April 13 at 10 a.m. before the commissioners.

Fremont County is believed to have four dispensaries—two in the county and two in Canon City. Commissioner Ed Norden says the regulations are designed to keep dispensaries from getting too close to neighborhoods and public facilities. "I don't think any of our zoning regulations anticipated (these) dispensaries. How many counties in Colorado ever had dispensaries listed in their zoning language? That's the problem we're facing."

Under the regulations, dispensaries can operate only in specially-designated business zones; be at least 500 feet from a school, church or other public area; and not closer than 1,000 feet from any other dispensary. The regulations also limit advertising and exposure of marijuana products to the public. Furthermore, a caregiver in a home setting may have no more than three patients using medical marijuana.

Earth Medicines & Caregivers is a Canon City dispensary which opened in mid-December. Owner Kevin Griffith says he supports the new regulations. "We can live by them. It's helping us out. There's just too many gray areas right now."

Norden say he believes that eventually, voters will decide the issue. "When the original medical marijuana amendment—which was not well-defined—was passed, Fremont County's vote was still against it. If you put the same thing to a vote now, I wouldn't be surprised if it was still that way. But we're hearing from both sides."


NewsHawk: User: http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: krdo.com
Author: SCOTT HARRISON
Copyright: 2010 WorldNow and KRDO
Contact: Contact Us - KRDO.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News, Weather and Sports
Website: Fremont County Approves Medical Marijuana Regulations - KRDO.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News, Weather and Sports