MEDICAL MARIJUANA GOES TO VOTERS

County Sets Ballot

ALAMOSA -- Voters will decide the fate of medical marijuana
dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of Alamosa County.

Alamosa County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously adopted a
resolution to put the question of whether to prohibit marijuana
dispensaries on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

The medical marijuana ballot question will be: "Pursuant to the
authority granted by C.R.S. Section 12-43.3-106, shall medical
marijuana centers, optional premises cultivation operations and
medical marijuana-infused products manufacturers' licenses, as those
terms are defined in C.R.S. Section 12-43.3-104, be prohibited within
the unincorporated boundaries of Alamosa County, Colorado?"

The voter will have the option of selecting "yes" to prohibit
marijuana dispensaries, or "no" to indicate they want to allow
marijuana dispensaries to locate in the county.

The current moratorium on marijuana dispensaries will continue until
the November election.

If the voters elect to allow the dispensaries in the unincorporated
areas of the county the current moratorium will continue until
licensing regulations are adopted. Moratoriums cannot be extended
beyond July 1, 2011, but can be discontinued earlier once the
regulations are set.

Land use regulations will also need to be modified and approved by the
board of commissioners before the moratorium can be lifted.

All regulations must be in accordance with the Colorado Medical
Marijuana Code (Article 43.3 to Title 12 of the Colorado Revised
Statutes) and Amendment 20 of the Colorado Constitution (Article XVII,
Section 14).

The board of commissioners voted unanimously to "advocate opposition"
to Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61.

According to the resolution, these three issues will reduce and
restrict state and local revenues in ways that include property taxes,
telecommunication taxes, state income taxes and state shared revenues.

Cutting these revenues will affect funds currently used by public
entities including schools, libraries, fire stations, schools and road
projects.

Because of the restrictions and revenue reductions these three
proposals will mandate they will also impact many non-government
organizations currently receiving monies from the county, such as
senior citizens and 4-H.

Because of the severe economic impact the passing of Proposition 101,
Amendment 60 and Amendment 61 would have on services currently
provided by the county Alamosa County Commissioners Darius Allen,
George Wilkinson, and Frank Mestas resolved to urge citizens of the
county to vote against all three of the ballot measures.