The Sterling Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday night voted unanimously to encourage the city council impose limits on any medical marijuana dispensaries that might get licensed.
"This is just an effort requested by the council if the council chooses to approve dispensaries, where would these go and what type of regulations or their placement," city attorney Kelly Barlean said.
If the city council will approve medical marijuana in the city remains a question. The planning and zoning commission's job was to determine where, and under what conditions, a medical marijuana dispensary would operate.
At the beginning of the meeting, commission chairman Roger Hosea and Barlean confirmed there are two issues involved: growing and selling.
"When we're talking about growing, is it 10 plants or 10,000?" Hosea asked.
Barlean said the growing of marijuana plants would have to be done away from a dispensary. There is no zoning allowance for agricultural purposes in the city of Sterling. Barlean did say the number of plants would vary with the amount of business. He added that dispensaries are not regulated like pharmacies. He said a recent court ruling defines marijuana as an herbal supplement, not a drug, and therefore it is taxable.
"That is part of the problem," Barlean said.
Hosea said he would prefer seeing dispensaries regulated under the medical services zoning.
"I think it is reasonable to keep it to MS (medical services)," Hosea said. "That allows it, but it restricts it considerably."
As zoned medical services, medical marijuana dispensaries would be limited to specific areas of Sterling, mostly in south Sterling near Sterling Regional MedCenter.
"I'm looking at this as we're allowing the opportunity for it, but we're allowing the community to say 'we don't want it,'" Hosea said.
Public Works Director Jim Allen reminded the planning and zoning commission that it is not their duty to determine if the city will have medical marijuana dispensaries, but if it does, how and where. The question of if the city will allow them will be decided by the city council.
Commission member Linda Gebauer said she personally does not support the medical marijuana dispensaries. She questioned how much of an interest there is in medical use of marijuana in northeast Colorado. She said a map was once publicized showing where people authorized to have medical marijuana live in Colorado, and only one person was in northeast Colorado; yet, there are reportedly three inquiries into opening a facility in Sterling.
"I personally think it should be very, very restricted," Gebauer said.
"And that is about as regulated as it can get," Hosea said in reference to the proposed MS zoning.
In other business, the commission approved changing the wording of zoning so that a sign is not required at mobile home parks. Owners who choose to construct a sign must meet size and setback requirements.
The commission also heard from Allen on "preliminary discussions" on the Logan County Humane Society seeking a new location. One suggestion, according to Allen, is on city-owned land near Highways 6 and 61.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Journal-Advocate
Author: Forrest Hershberger
Contact: Journal-Advocate
Copyright: 2009 Media News group
Website: City Zoning Commission Proposes Limits To Medical Marijuana Sales
"This is just an effort requested by the council if the council chooses to approve dispensaries, where would these go and what type of regulations or their placement," city attorney Kelly Barlean said.
If the city council will approve medical marijuana in the city remains a question. The planning and zoning commission's job was to determine where, and under what conditions, a medical marijuana dispensary would operate.
At the beginning of the meeting, commission chairman Roger Hosea and Barlean confirmed there are two issues involved: growing and selling.
"When we're talking about growing, is it 10 plants or 10,000?" Hosea asked.
Barlean said the growing of marijuana plants would have to be done away from a dispensary. There is no zoning allowance for agricultural purposes in the city of Sterling. Barlean did say the number of plants would vary with the amount of business. He added that dispensaries are not regulated like pharmacies. He said a recent court ruling defines marijuana as an herbal supplement, not a drug, and therefore it is taxable.
"That is part of the problem," Barlean said.
Hosea said he would prefer seeing dispensaries regulated under the medical services zoning.
"I think it is reasonable to keep it to MS (medical services)," Hosea said. "That allows it, but it restricts it considerably."
As zoned medical services, medical marijuana dispensaries would be limited to specific areas of Sterling, mostly in south Sterling near Sterling Regional MedCenter.
"I'm looking at this as we're allowing the opportunity for it, but we're allowing the community to say 'we don't want it,'" Hosea said.
Public Works Director Jim Allen reminded the planning and zoning commission that it is not their duty to determine if the city will have medical marijuana dispensaries, but if it does, how and where. The question of if the city will allow them will be decided by the city council.
Commission member Linda Gebauer said she personally does not support the medical marijuana dispensaries. She questioned how much of an interest there is in medical use of marijuana in northeast Colorado. She said a map was once publicized showing where people authorized to have medical marijuana live in Colorado, and only one person was in northeast Colorado; yet, there are reportedly three inquiries into opening a facility in Sterling.
"I personally think it should be very, very restricted," Gebauer said.
"And that is about as regulated as it can get," Hosea said in reference to the proposed MS zoning.
In other business, the commission approved changing the wording of zoning so that a sign is not required at mobile home parks. Owners who choose to construct a sign must meet size and setback requirements.
The commission also heard from Allen on "preliminary discussions" on the Logan County Humane Society seeking a new location. One suggestion, according to Allen, is on city-owned land near Highways 6 and 61.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Journal-Advocate
Author: Forrest Hershberger
Contact: Journal-Advocate
Copyright: 2009 Media News group
Website: City Zoning Commission Proposes Limits To Medical Marijuana Sales
