MEDICAL MARIJUANA MARKET BUDDING IN ASPEN, ELSEWHERE

ASPEN -- It's likely that within weeks there will be more than one
medical marijuana dispensary in Aspen, as interest continues to
build from local groups hoping to tap an untouched market.

Aspen attorney Lauren Maytin, who serves on the board of directors
of the Colorado branch of National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws (NORML), and has been working on the issue for a
decade, said she has met with several clients looking to open
dispensaries on the Western Slope, including Aspen.

Another group will likely beat them to the punch of being Aspen's
first pot dispensary -- Aspen L.E.A.F.. (Locals Emporium of
Alternative Farms), owned by longtime locals. They are finalizing a
lease for space downtown and are scheduled to be open within days.

Maytin said her clients are ensuring they comply with all Colorado laws.

"They are taking their time to make sure they're doing it right," she said.

Aspen Community Development Director Chris Bendon said medical
marijuana dispensaries are an allowed use in nearly every zone
district downtown because they fall under "pharmacy."

"Pharmacy is anywhere you can have an office, which is virtually
everywhere," Bendon said.

Limited retail is allowed in dispensaries because it's incidental to
the sale and use of marijuana products.

Bendon used the example of Rodney's Pharmacy, which sells medication
and crutches for patients who are injured.

While dispensaries are allowed in Aspen, other municipalities have
placed moratoriums on them.

The Basalt Town Council recently approved a 90-day moratorium on new
pot dispensaries to buy time for its planning staff to work on
regulations governing such facilities.

Moratoriums also are in effect in Breckenridge, Frisco, Minturn and
Eagle, Maytin said. In the meantime, many of her clients are
preparing their business plans.

"I'm busy with the I-70 corridor and most of them are waiting for
the moratoriums to be lifted," she said.

Maytin spent Thursday morning with clients. One plans to open a
dispensary in Breckenridge; another wants to set up shop in Glenwood Springs.

Under Colorado's medical marijuana law, approved by voters as
Amendment 20 in 2000, patients with certain conditions, including
HIV, muscle spasms and chronic pain, can use medical marijuana as
long as they get a doctor's approval and register with the state.

The law permits patients or their designated caregivers to grow up
to six marijuana plants or possess two ounces of usable marijuana.

Aspen L.E.A.F. will offer several strains of the plant, which is
Colorado-grown, and will be available in edible and vaporized form
for those qualified to buy cannabis. Starter plants with lighting
equipment will be sold, as will kief and hashish.

If they open before Maytin's other clients, Aspen L.E.A.F.. will be
the first marijuana shop in Aspen and the third in the Roaring Fork Valley.

The WIN Health Institute, an alternative health care cooperative
located in Basalt, opened a dispensary this month, and Colorado
Mountain Dispensary (C.M.D.) opened for business in Carbondale in early July.

Aspen L.E.A.F.., under the parent company, Colorado Medical
Marijuana Supply Inc., filed a business license application with the
city of Aspen last week. Bendon's department acted as the referral
agency before the license could be granted. Bendon finalized his
interpretation of the code Wednesday, which determined it's an
allowed use. The license is pending.

Anyone has 15 days to appeal the issuance of a business license, Bendon noted.

He said some municipalities are regulating dispensaries that
stipulate they can't be located within a certain distance from
childcare centers, schools, or from each other.

"That assumes there is a degradation of morality with dispensaries
and we don't see it that way," Bendon said.

Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis and Aspen Police Chief Richard
Pryor said they don't see any problems with a medical marijuana
dispensary in Aspen.