SECOND POT DISPENSARY ROLLS INTO ASPEN

Two pot dispensaries this week have opened in Aspen, signaling a sign
of the times in the state's growing medicinal marijuana industry.

But just how much business Aspen L.E.A.F. (Locals Emporium of
Alternative Farms) and Cooper Street Apothecary - the city's two pot
shops - can generate remains to be seen.

Colorado Medical Marijuana Supply Inc., which owns Aspen L.E.A.F.,
opened its dispensary under that name at 100 Spring St. Tuesday. On
Monday, the apothecary announced it was open for business by
appointment only and will be fully operational next month at 520 E.
Cooper Ave.

It appears both outfits were in a race to become the first full-blown
pot dispensary in Aspen. Now, whether there are enough customers to
consume their supplies is the ultimate question for the operators.

Bill Miller, owner of Aspen L.E.A.F, said hours of operation are 11
a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Hours might fluctuate or change
depending on need, he added.

The group is still in the process of moving into the space, which is
formerly a dentist office in the downstairs portion of Neil Ross'
building at the corner of Main and Spring streets. As of Wednesday,
the only signs of a pot dispensary were a few pieces of literature and
business cards containing Aspen's L.E.A.F.'s logo.

Once completely up and running, several Colorado-grown strains of the
plant will be offered, and will be available for those qualified to
buy cannabis. In the weeks to come, the dispensary plans to offer
starter plants, growing equipment, vaporizers, educational literature,
tinctures, and edible forms of medicinal marijuana. Additionally,
education and literature pertaining to other natural remedies will be
offered.

L.E.A.F. maintains a private greenhouse that houses a large variety of
medicinal marijuana. The plant with be offered in raw form, in baked
goods, cooking oils, tinctures and balms.

The apothecary will provide access to medical marijuana,
artisan-crafted herbal tinctures and edibles, homeopathic and
essential oils and herbs, nutrient-based vitamin and mineral
supplements, teas and lotions, and a range of other
merchandise.

The operators plan to offer access to health-related services such as
nutrition counseling, addiction counseling, acupuncture, massage
therapy and yoga.

Under Colorado's medical marijuana law, approved by voters as
Amendment 20 in 2000, patients with certain conditions such as chronic
pain or muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis 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 2 ounces of usable marijuana.

[Sidebar]

. AND MAYBE ANOTHER NEAR VAIL

EDWARDS -- A Boulder man says he wants to open a "classy and
sophisticated" medical marijuana dispensary in Edwards in Colorado's
Vail Valley.

Bryan Swanton, 30, plans to open the dispensary in the former UPS
building in the Edwards Village Center off Edwards Village Boulevard.

"I"m concerned with making a place that's classy, and where people
tend to be very respectful and people have a feeling this is a
professional and legitimate business, instead of sticking with the
stereotype of it being a back corner place where you get your stuff," he said.

Swanton hopes to open the dispensary "as soon as possible." He's
working on signing a lease for the 1,100-square-foot building.

Swanton is thinking about calling his business "Buds" Premier
Dispensary. He plans to sell his product to people who hold legal
registration cards to use the drug for medical purposes.

"Ultimately a lot of what I imagine I will find in Vail are people
who have had serious injuries and many of them will suffer will from
chronic pain," he said. "There will be other diagnoses left and
right, but that's something I really want to focus on is helping
people understand strain names and quantities that can help them
more. I'm going to come in with a whole onslaught of very carefully
dosed edibles."

This would be the second medical marijuana dispensary to open in
Edwards. The other dispensary -- New Hope Wellness Center -- opened
earlier this month. The town of Avon also received its first
application for a dispensary business license this month.