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Businesses catering to recreational marijuana use may or may not be allowed in Larimer County, but whatever direction county officials decide to take is certain to have supporters and detractors.
A "listening session" sponsored by the Larimer County commissioners Tuesday on how the county should deal with marijuana stores and growing operations illustrated the point: Speakers were divided on whether the county should ban the businesses or regulate them in ways similar to liquor stores.
About 25 people attended the meeting at the county courthouse offices in Fort Collins. Among speakers, those in favor of regulated businesses slightly outnumbered those in opposition.
Revenue from sales tax on regulated marijuana sales could help the county work through its budgetary problems, said Gary Peterson, an outspoken advocate of the benefits of medical marijuana.
The county should "go slow" but stay in sync with state regulations on recreational pot, he said.
"Implement the will of the voters," he said. "Don't be politicians; be statesmen."
Longtime local resident Ray Burgener urged the commissioners to stand up to marijuana use and not allow retail sales of it in the county. Drug use is leading to the "dumbing down" of the country, he said.
"This is going to impact future and future generations in a very negative way," he said.
State voters in November approved Amendment 64, which makes possession and use of marijuana legal for adults 21 years and older. The law allows for marijuana businesses, including retail stores and growing facilities.
The amendment directs the state to craft regulations for licensing marijuana businesses. The law also allows municipalities and counties to come up with their rules for marijuana businesses, including banning them outright.
Larimer County's rules would apply to unincorporated areas outside of city limits. Towns and cities would have to establish their own regulatory framework.
Any county regulations on businesses would not affect the personal use, possession and growing of marijuana, officials said.
Erica Freeman, co-owner of the medical marijuana dispensary Choice Organics, said without the option of a few stores in the county to buy marijuana legally, neighborhoods would be adversely affected by grows in houses.
Existing medical marijuana stores have proven they can operate responsibly, she said, and should be given the opportunity to get into the recreational market.
"Regulations do help tremendously to keep illegal substances out of our youths' hands," she said. "And the potential taxes that can be had from the cannabis industry are taxes voters have wanted and asked for."
But businessman Jathan Trevena, who opposed allowing medical marijuana businesses in the county, said additional marijuana stores would hurt neighborhoods.
"For security and law enforcement aspects, I do feel that this is something that is better left in municipalities ... as opposed to out in the county," he said.
The commissioners conducted a series of meetings with county law enforcement, planning and health officials about the issue prior to meeting with the public.
The commissioners are likely to make a decision about allowing nonmedical marijuana businesses this summer, said Commissioner Steve Johnson.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: coloradoan.com
Author: Kevin Duggan
Website: The Coloradoan | Fort Collins news, community, entertainment, and classifieds. Serving Fort Collins, Colorado
A "listening session" sponsored by the Larimer County commissioners Tuesday on how the county should deal with marijuana stores and growing operations illustrated the point: Speakers were divided on whether the county should ban the businesses or regulate them in ways similar to liquor stores.
About 25 people attended the meeting at the county courthouse offices in Fort Collins. Among speakers, those in favor of regulated businesses slightly outnumbered those in opposition.
Revenue from sales tax on regulated marijuana sales could help the county work through its budgetary problems, said Gary Peterson, an outspoken advocate of the benefits of medical marijuana.
The county should "go slow" but stay in sync with state regulations on recreational pot, he said.
"Implement the will of the voters," he said. "Don't be politicians; be statesmen."
Longtime local resident Ray Burgener urged the commissioners to stand up to marijuana use and not allow retail sales of it in the county. Drug use is leading to the "dumbing down" of the country, he said.
"This is going to impact future and future generations in a very negative way," he said.
State voters in November approved Amendment 64, which makes possession and use of marijuana legal for adults 21 years and older. The law allows for marijuana businesses, including retail stores and growing facilities.
The amendment directs the state to craft regulations for licensing marijuana businesses. The law also allows municipalities and counties to come up with their rules for marijuana businesses, including banning them outright.
Larimer County's rules would apply to unincorporated areas outside of city limits. Towns and cities would have to establish their own regulatory framework.
Any county regulations on businesses would not affect the personal use, possession and growing of marijuana, officials said.
Erica Freeman, co-owner of the medical marijuana dispensary Choice Organics, said without the option of a few stores in the county to buy marijuana legally, neighborhoods would be adversely affected by grows in houses.
Existing medical marijuana stores have proven they can operate responsibly, she said, and should be given the opportunity to get into the recreational market.
"Regulations do help tremendously to keep illegal substances out of our youths' hands," she said. "And the potential taxes that can be had from the cannabis industry are taxes voters have wanted and asked for."
But businessman Jathan Trevena, who opposed allowing medical marijuana businesses in the county, said additional marijuana stores would hurt neighborhoods.
"For security and law enforcement aspects, I do feel that this is something that is better left in municipalities ... as opposed to out in the county," he said.
The commissioners conducted a series of meetings with county law enforcement, planning and health officials about the issue prior to meeting with the public.
The commissioners are likely to make a decision about allowing nonmedical marijuana businesses this summer, said Commissioner Steve Johnson.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: coloradoan.com
Author: Kevin Duggan
Website: The Coloradoan | Fort Collins news, community, entertainment, and classifieds. Serving Fort Collins, Colorado
