POT DISPENSARY NEAR STAPLETON SCHOOL IGNITES CONTROVERSY

A medical-marijuana dispensary opening near a high school is creating
divided opinions in Denver's Stapleton neighborhood and seems likely
to have narrowly beaten new rules that could restrict dispensary
operations in the city.

"I voted for medical marijuana, but I didn't expect it to be in my
backyard," said Will Robbins,who lives in the neighborhood built on
the site of the city's old airport.

Robbins said he has friends with debilitating diseases who would
benefit from medical marijuana, which Colorado voters authorized when
they passed Amendment 20 in 2000. But he said he worries about the
high school students whom he used to coach in lacrosse at the nearby
Denver School of Science and Technology, rated the top school in Denver.

"The last thing those students need is a medical-marijuana dispensary
within a mile of them, let alone 500 feet," Robbins said.

Tonya Le, a server at the An's Lemon Grass Grille restaurant in the
same commercial complex as the planned dispensary, said she doesn't
understand all the fuss.

The restaurant serves alcohol near the high school but follows
pertinent regulations and doesn't sell to those underage, Le said.
Surely, a business selling medial marijuana could also follow proper
regulations, she said.

"I mean, the dispensary will probably bring more people here," she
said.

The controversy over the dispensary, 5280 Wellness LLC, is the latest
clash over Colorado's booming medical-marijuana industry. The
dispensary is planned for a space at 2373 Central Park Boulevard that
was once home to a family-centric coffee shop called Perk & Play.

City officials say 5280 Wellness received a sales tax license from the
city effective Dec. 1. The listed registered agent for the dispensary
did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

The debate over the Stapleton dispensary, which is not yet selling any
products, comes on the eve of a crucial Denver City Council committee
meeting scheduled for today that will play a large role in determining
the future dispensary landscape in the city.

Councilman Charlie Brown's proposed regulations would prohibit
dispensaries from operating within 500 feet of a school, but some
council members want a greater distance, and Brown said he is open to
considering changes.

Brown's regulations also would allow dispensaries that "commence
operations" on or before Dec. 1 to continue operating.

Brown said his colleagues are split on what the deadline should be and
on how to define what constitutes commencing operations. Some council
members want the deadline to be Jan. 1, to give those who have
invested heavily in opening new dispensaries time to set up shop.
Others want tighter restrictions.

"Everything is getting heavily debated," Brown said.