COUNCIL JUST SAYS NO TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA

STERLING - The Sterling city council amended then approved the first
reading of an ordinance that would keep medical marijuana out of the
city of Sterling. The council has kept any potential dispensary
businesses at bay this year with moratoriums banning medical
marijuana businesses from the city.

Councilman Jerry Haynes introduced the motion to ban medical
marijuana production and dispensing within the city with councilman
Rocky Joy offering the second. City attorney Kelly Barlean said Gov.
Bill Ritter recently signed a bill that allows cities to ban the
production and sales of marijuana products for medical purposes.

Mayor Larry Fetzer questioned if the proposed ordinance is
necessary.

"The question I have is, are we jumping the gun," Fetzer said, "and
question two is when does our moratorium expire?"

Barlean said the city's moratorium is not scheduled to expire until
July. He said he wanted to be sure there is some overlap in relation
to when most laws go into effect.

Haynes said he supports the ban to let the community know what the
city thinks.

"The only reason I'm in favor of banning - approving the ordinance to
ban, is so people know how city feels about it," Haynes said.

Joy said if the city decides now, it could avoid conflicts later.
Councilwoman Heather Delgado-Diaz said she questions if the ordinance
is necessary because there are no pending applications. "But either
way, we need to look at it tonight," she said.

The ordinance as presented acknowledges the Colorado Revised Statues
allow for municipalities to ban the "operation of medical marijuana
centers, optional premises cultivation operations, and medical
marijuana-infused products manufacturer's licenses." Approving the
ordinance would prohibit medical marijuana sales within the city.

Councilwoman LeAnn Rieb said the ordinance will not stop marijuana
consumed for medical reasons in the city of Sterling, citing an
advertisement in a local newspaper promoting a medical marijuana
service. The service based in Washington County advertises delivery
service that includes the city of Sterling, Rieb said.

The council approved amending the ordinance to include invalidating
the ordinance if action is taken by "any Colorado court order." The
ordinance already stated that should any part of the ordinance become
invalid by action taken by the Colorado legislature, city council
would then impose a one-year moratorium. First reading of the
ordinance was approved 7-0. Second reading and public hearing will
come before the city council on July 13; no city council meetings
will be held on June 22 or 29.

A Colorado Municipal League meeting will be held the week of June 22
and consequently there will be no meeting. June 29 is a fifth
Tuesday. Council members decided to schedule the second reading for
the next formal meeting.

In other business, the council approved renewal of a hotel and
restaurant liquor license for T.J. Bummers, held a short executive
session for consultation on personnel matters, heard an update on
Enterprise Zone definitions to include the Sterling Public Library
and Sterling airport, and learned that the Northeast Colorado
Association of Local Governments is seeking a letter of support for a
grant application. The grant is for funding to replace three busses.
The grant would be for about half the cost, City Manager Joe Kiolbasa
said, at no cost to the city.