MORATORIUM CONTINUES TO MAKE SENSE

The new state law regulating the medical marijuana industry still
doesn't answer all the questions the city of Longmont needs answered
to formulate its own rules governing dispensaries in town.

Sure, the law spells out a laundry list of restrictions and
regulations, but it doesn't fully take effect until July 1, 2011. And
the Department of Revenue still has to come up with a process for
state licensing procedures and requirements.

So it was no surprise that the Longmont City Council on Tuesday voted
unanimously to extend the city's moratorium on medical marijuana
dispensaries. That sounds like a reasonable course.

We see no reason for the city to come up with regulations, only to
have to change them a few weeks or months later.

City staff can continue to work on local regulations, and the City
Council can continue to discuss those proposals.

When 2008 came to an end, Longmont had no medical marijuana
dispensaries. By Oct. 2, when the city's first moratorium went into
effect, retroactively, the city had at least eight open or in the
process of opening. Is that too many? Not enough? The market likely
will provide the answers to those questions.

When the city finally brings its proposed regulations to the table,
it should at least have the answers to questions the state law has
raised.