COMMISSIONERS EYE MEDICAL POT BAN

Plan To Vote On Resolution Barring Dispensaries, Grow
Operations

The Logan County Commissioners directed County Attorney Alan Samber
to draw up a resolution banning medical marijuana dispensaries and
growing operations for their consideration at a future business
meeting. It is expected to be on their agenda at the June 29 meeting
and if passed would go into effect immediately.

Samber explained that if the moratorium in place now were to be
extended it would allow existing businesses with a license prior to
Aug. 1 to continue unless the county did something. If the county
does not act before July 1, 2011, the state will regulate the
dispensaries after that.

At the Monday work session, commissioners heard from an owner located
in Logan County and also an owner located in Washington County. They
requested that the commissioners allow the medical marijuana
dispensaries in Logan County because of the need since many people
have to drive so far to get to the one in Washington County.

The owner from Washington County, Jim Clark, said that the people
that come to his business are "mostly old people that travel a long
way. That is the only reason we were going to do the delivery thing,"

"I would say a good third of our folks come from right here in
Sterling, Holyoke, Haxtun, Julesburg area and have to drive an extra
half an hour, 45 (minutes) to an hour and a half in order to get to
our place instead of being able to be helped by Dave or by us if we
can open a dispensary here in your area.

"The average age is 60 -65 and a very small amount are under age 21,"
he said.

Clark said there are 180 people around the area who have come to his
place since February. He said that weekly, about 30-plus come from
this area with sales of three to five grams, 10 at the most, a week.

He was hoping the commissioners would allow the dispensaries in Logan
County. He said he realizes that some people are concerned that there
will be illegal operations.

"We don't want to be involved in illegal operations of any kind,"
Clark said.

Commissioner Jim Edwards said the city has already taken a firm
stand, indicating that he thought the county should as well.

When asked by Clark why, Edwards responded that he thinks the program
has been misused with numbers going from 1,000 to 100,000 and reports
of more than 300 scripts being written a day.

Although there are not that many in this area, there are some local
doctors who write the prescriptions for their patients, Clark said.
Writing the scripts is separate from the dispensary.

Commissioner Jack McLavey agreed with Edwards, saying, "We see so
many problems with use, and it doesn't do the city any good if the
county doesn't ban it also."

"We represent the people of Logan County and they voted this down
before," said Commissioner Debbie Zwirn.

David Durfee, owner of a Logan County dispensary, said that he would
like to see it go to the people for a vote.

"As representatives of the county we have to look at all sides, like
it or not there are illegal things going on and will continue to be,"
McLavey said. "We don't want to open a door to somebody that is not
doing legal things."

Durfee also asked if a resolution is passed, would that put him out
of business.

He was told that the dispensary would not be allowed.

Commissioner Zwirn stated the resolution would be on the agenda next
Tuesday, and they were welcome to attend for the public comment
before the vote.