GLENWOOD SPRINGS CONSIDERING DISPENSARY MORATORIUM

Mayor Suggests City Wait and See What Regulations State Will Approve

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado -- Glenwood City Council is considering a
six-month moratorium restricting the opening of any new medical
marijuana dispensaries in town.

Glenwood Springs Mayor Bruce Christensen proposed the moratorium that
would restrict any new dispensaries from opening in town while the
city, and the rest of the state, wait and see what happens with House
Bill 1284 regarding medical marijuana regulations.

The bill received the first two approvals from the state Senate on
May 5, and is expected to make its way to Gov. Bill Ritter's desk for
approval in the coming weeks.

Some provisions of the bill would require dispensaries to comply with
statewide regulations, while still allowing local governments the
authority to further regulate the industry.

Glenwood City Attorney Jan Shute mentioned at the May 6 meeting that
the HB 1284 would put in place a one-year statewide moratorium
restricting any new dispensaries to open after July 1, 2010.
Dispensaries open before that date would be allowed to continue to
operate under the new rules that are established under the bill, if
it's passed.

Mayor Christensen said that a six-month moratorium would give council
adequate time to see what the final bill regulations include and will
also provide more direction for council to determine what further
regulations are needed specifically for Glenwood Springs.

"I think council has been cautious and not wanting to get in and get
restrictive with people, but things seem to be wide open to this
point," Christensen said.

Dan Sullivan with Green Medical Wellness, a medical marijuana
dispensary in Glenwood Springs, suggested that council create an
advisory council similar to what Carbondale did in March.
Carbondale's Board of Trustees appointed a 14-member Medical
Marijuana Facilities Advisory Group to study issues raised by
concerned citizens regarding location of dispensaries and associated
grow operations. Sullivan said that he would like to see at least one
dispensary owner on that council.

Sullivan said that he was not opposed to regulations but wanted
industry representatives involved in the process.

"We look forward to having a structure in place and operating within
the laws that make sense," Sullivan said.

While several councilors agreed with Christensen on the moratorium,
Councilman Russ Arensman has strong objections.

"I strongly disagree with the moratorium," he said. "It only delays
us from getting started on addressing the issue of what the
regulations should be."

Arensman said that he didn't think it was appropriate to put a
moratorium in place after the city has already allowed eight
dispensaries to open up shop in town.

"That horse has left the barn," he said. "I respect the idea behind
[the moratorium], but you've just given the existing businesses
exclusive licenses."

Councilman Dave Sturges said that the moratorium is needed in order
to give the council sufficient time to address the many issues such
as local licensing, location and hours of operation, to name a few.

"A moratorium is appropriate," he said. "It gives us time to address
the issues."

Council requested a draft ordinance to be discussed at the May 20
meeting, at which time a vote on the moratorium is possible.