CEDAREDGE DELAYS NEXT DEBATE ON POT DISPENSARIES

On Monday, June 7, Governor Bill Ritter signed HB 1284 into law,
requiring medical marijuana dispensaries (MMDs) to be licensed and
monitored throughout the state while at the same time giving local
communities and counties the authority to ban them, either by a vote
of the people or via the governing body of the town/county.

The action has sparked even more discussion by the Cedaredge Town
Council as to the appropriate course for the community.

In November 2009, the Cedaredge Town Council unanimously approved a
one year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.

Now that the state rules are taking shape, the topic came back during
the council's work session on Thursday, June 10. Trustee Nancy
Sturgill said she is not in favor of pursuing a ban on MMDs at this time.

"This [marijuana] is a very natural product," said Sturgill, "and I
don't feel con dent in denying Cedaredge residents access at this
point." Sturgill said the trustees need to work on guidelines to regulate them.

Trustee Nelson Cederberg made it clear that he supports a ban on
MMDs, adding that there are already dispensaries nearby that people
can go to get medical marijuana if need be.

When asked, Cedaredge Police Chief Robert Yant said the town could
extend the existing moratorium until July 2011, and give the state
more time to get regulations in place. Yant said a ban on MMDs before
the state has regulations in place could potentially result in a lawsuit.

In those counties/municipalities where they are allowed, medical
marijuana dispensary owners will have to undergo criminal background
checks, and grow 70 percent of the marijuana they sell.

Cedaredge town administrator Kathleen Sickles noted that the zoning
requirements for the location of a MMDs in the Town of Cedaredge is
addressed by Title 16, adding that Title 16 does not approve them,
but only establishes where they can be located based on the zoning
requirements.

Again, when asked, Yant answered that the consensus among most law
enforcement agencies is that MMDs increase crime in those areas where
they are located.

With regard to a proposed public hearing, trustee Laurence Smith said
he feels that the trustees are putting the "cart before the horse."
Smith recommended extending the current moratorium and hold a public
hearing to get a feeling of the community regarding the issue at a later date.

After further deliberation, the trustees decided to take the MMDs
debate off the June 17 town council meeting agenda and to cancel a
July 29 public hearing regarding MMDs.

The trustees then discussed the modi cation of the current lease
agreement between the Town of Cedaredge and Larry Caveny, regarding
The Grill at Deer Creek. Sickles noted that the modi cation was due
in part to the current economic down turn. Sickles said that although
the modi cation will generate less revenue than the current lease,
it does provide/maintain a tax revenue and was necessary to keep Caveny.

Golf pro Larry Murphy said they have made an effort to nd other
vendors but that no one is willing to take over The Grill.

Under the new agreement the lease will go from $36,000 per year to
$20,000 per year, generating close to $30,000 for 2010, and $20,000
for 2011. Under the new agreement, Caveny will pay more during the
busy season and less during the off season, and the hours of
operation at The Grill will be reduced during the off season.

Everyone agreed that Caveny does a good job, and that he appears to
be comfortable with the new lease agreement.

The trustees also discussed the resignation of administrative intern
Mitch Meier; a proposed agreement between the town and Volunteers of
America regarding the use of the Community Center; and the
appointment of Tom Gray as the town's utility manager.