CORTEZ OFFICIALS WEIGH MEDICAL POT DISPENSARY BAN

CORTEZ - Cortez officials are discussing whether to ask voters if they
want to remove existing medical marijuana dispensaries and prohibit
new ones from ever opening in the city.

City Councilor Betty Swank said this week she and her colleagues have
talked about putting the question to voters in the November ballot but
no decision has been made. Swank says she favors a ballot question.

A law signed by Gov. Bill Ritter this year allows state municipalities
the option to ban dispensaries. Cortez has five medical marijuana
dispensaries operating in the city. The city implemented a moratorium
on new businesses in May.