ORCHARD CITY LOOKS TO EXTEND MARIJUANA DISPENSARY MORATORIUM

Following the lead of county government and other municipalities,
the Town of Orchard City plans to extend its moratorium on medical
marijuana dispensaries for another 180 days.

The town adopted its first moratorium last Nov. 18.

Last week on Wednesday, April 14, the trustees heard first reading
of an ordinance that will extend the current 180-day moratorium.

Town trustees will vote on the measure at second reading during
their May 12 meeting. There will also be a public hearing on the
proposed ordinance.

"As you are all aware," said Mayor Don Suppes, introducing the
topic, "we are waiting for the state to make some decisions
(concerning dispensary regulation) that we can actually follow
through with. This proposed ordinance is just to extend the
ordinance we passed in November."

Trustee Gale Doudy asked, "How many times can we extend this?"

Suppes replied, "We are allowed to extend this now until the
(state's) legislation is passed. Beyond that point we would be hard
pressed to extend the local moratorium again."

The town government felt outmaneuvered a month ago when, after
adopting its first moratorium against establishment of new
dispensaries, an existing marijuana dispensary in the town, Grand
Mesa Herbal Dispensary, moved and expanded its operation from a
sequestered site on Fruitgrowers road to a highly visible location
on Highway 65. The town's moratorium had not included any
prohibition against existing marijuana dispensaries expanding their
operations.

Though Orchard City and other jurisdictions are waiting for guidance
from the state on regulation of the dispensaries, the town could be
disappointed with any legislative result. Statehouse politicians are
being pressured with high-dollar lobbying efforts by pro-pot
interests from out of state that have lots of money to spend on the
goal of legalized marijuana.

Local law enforcement officials are not hopeful that any legislative
result coming from Denver this year will even effectively address
the many and widespread abuses of Colorado's current medical marijuana system.

Those abuses include the following:

- - Easy approval for access to marijuana "cards" which grant legal possession;

- - Widespread forging of medical marijuana cards;

- - Abuse of the state law's intent that dispensaries serve as true
"caregivers" for clients and not just as marijuana distribution outlets;

- - And, patients skirting the law's intent by using multiple
dispensary outlets to buy large quantities of marijuana, far more
than required for medical purposes.

Nevertheless, town officials remain hopeful that the state
legislature will finally adopt some form of regulation on marijuana
dispensaries.

Town government regulation of the dispensaries would be a first in
the area of Orchard City regulation of local business.

There are currently five legally operating medical marijuana
dispensaries in Delta County, according to the sheriff's department.
In addition to the one in Eckert, there is one each in Delta and
Crawford, and two in Paonia. Another one may open in Delta, also.

Orchard City's proposed moratorium extension ordinance would become
effective immediately upon adoption by the town board.