MEDICAL POT MORATORIUM BEFORE COUNCIL

A businessman who wants to open a dispensary thinks it will be extended.

Public discussion about possibly extending the moratorium on medical
marijuana dispensaries will be front and center tonight at City Council.

And Tom Sexton, who has been up front with city leaders about opening
Pueblo's first dispensary, said he's disheartened by his belief
there's a good chance an extension will be approved.

On Nov. 2, council members voted unanimously to begin a 90-day
moratorium on licensing dispensaries. About 60 days have passed since
that meeting.

"I don't understand this urgency to pass this second moratorium when
you have another six weeks from now to create (city) policies (on
dispensaries). It's a little suspicious," Sexton said in a phone
interview Sunday.

"Maybe there's some notoriety in rushing this thing through now
before (newly elected council members take office). Pueblo politics
seems to work backward. But, we'll see. I don't think we'll be quite
as vocal in supporting the second moratorium." Sexton is trying to
open a MediMar Ministry dispensary and wellness center at 112 Colorado Ave.

He and his staff have had open discussions with city leaders and law
enforcement officials about the services he wants to offer and about
establishing a reputable business.

Sexton said there is a need for a dispensary in Pueblo and the
moratorium has been an inconvenience to patients, his employees and a
business he's invested in.

"It's never been our intent to be a big business.

It was to get (clients) out of our living room and into a safe
business," Sexton said. "Given the inconvenience, we're still
committed to our patients, but we're operating like the city wants us
to do, which is in the shadows."

The medical marijuana issue is one Colorado cities are struggling
with zoning and ordinance regulations. Some have made ordinances and
are collecting sales tax money, like Colorado Springs, which has 14
dispensaries.

The idea behind the moratorium extension in Pueblo is to wait for the
state General Assembly to convene and take action on the matter. The
federal government already has said it will not prosecute cases
involving medical marijuana patients or caregivers in states where its allowed.

Colorado is one of 14 states that allows medical marijuana.

Sexton's lawyer, Jim Oliver, argues the matter is a local issue.

"The city of Denver and Colorado Springs are taking this on and are
drafting regulations," Oliver said.

"I don't think what the state's going to do is going to help the city
in creating its own regulations," added Sexton.

The public hearing starts at 5:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall.