APPLICANTS RUSH TO BEAT MEDICAL POT MORATORIUM

DURANGO - Eight La Plata County residents interested in growing plants
for the medical marijuana business have turned in paperwork before a
new moratorium on the activity kicks in.

The time-out is intended to give county officials time to assess the
impacts of the operations and recommend regulations.

When a previous moratorium was lifted, 30 people requested application
forms. The deadline for submitting the applications is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

A new law takes effect Thursday that imposes statewide regulations on
the industry, including rules for the estimated 1,100 pot dispensaries
across Colorado. Regulators expect only about half of the existing
dispensaries to be able to continue operating under the rules.

Colorado voters in 2000 approved the medical use of marijuana.