CITY WANTS MEDICAL POT JOINTS GONE

Days may be numbered for Loveland's 14 medical marijuana dispensaries,
with a council consensus on Tuesday night to ban the sale and
distribution of medical pot in the city as soon as possible.

The council, just prior to unanimous passage of a resolution extending
the moratorium on new dispensaries through Dec. 31, instructed City
Attorney John Duval to draft a choice of resolutions for the council
to consider in late July, either of which would shut down the businesses.

Duval, in late July or early August, will present councilors with
these choices:

A resolution banning the sale and cultivation of medical marijuana
until voters weigh in on a council-approved ballot measure in November
on the question of keeping and regulating the dispensaries;

A measure that would ban medical marijuana sales without putting the
issue to voters.

The 2010 Colorado Legislature opened the door to local control of
medical marijuana, with provisions for licensing and controlling the
industry or to opt out of the business provisions of the
constitutional amendment authorizing its use.

"I'm ready to quit acting like this legislation is something we need
to honor and respect," councilor Donna Rice said, opening a lively
discussion that, after an hour, demonstrated a council consensus to
close the shops. "We have the option to stop the sale and cultivation
of marijuana cultivation in our city."

Hugh McKean jumped aboard: "Donna, I'm with you," he said. "Let's opt
out of this process now, and still get it on the ballot."

Councilors spoke of the failed promise of regulating the medical
marijuana industry, and its detrimental effects on the city. And, as
the discussion wore on, the question of whether to leave the question
to voters got close scrutiny.

Some councilors pressed for a November ballot question, saying it gave
the city control over the cost and timing of a citywide election on
the issue, one that could be called for by a citizen petition
requiring as few as 3,500 signatures.

Loveland resident Nancy Ulibarri, who suffers from chronic pain and is
a medical marijuana patient, asked the council to preserve the
November ballot question, regardless of how they vote later this
month, or in early August, on the sale ban.

"It needs to be put before the public," she said. "It shouldn't be
just nine people. Wait until November, and let the citizens of
Loveland tell you what they want."

Councilors Larry Heckel and Kent Solt expressed the need to preserve
the rights of medical marijuana patients to obtain it under provisions
of a doctor's prescription, something the new state law preserves.