DINOSAUR OFFICIALS MULLING POT DISPENSARIES

A recent proposal to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Dinosaur
has prompted the town council to examine its options regarding the
industry and recent state legislation.

Dinosaur Mayor L.D. Smith said a recent encounter with two prospective
business owners from Utah who want to open a dispensary in late June
has divided the town council's opinion on the issue. It has also
prompted town officials to consider whether to put the matter to
voters in November.

The town council has not yet drafted a ballot measure, and Smith said
he is not sure if the council would have time to place the issue on
the ballot.

"I don't have a dog in this fight," he said. "I just don't feel it is
my job to make a decision on this. I feel the folks should make a
decision on this."

In June, the council called a special meeting to address the
dispensary proposal, Smith said.

The council informed the two people from Utah that they would need 160
signatures from registered Dinosaur voters for the council to approve
the proposal, Smith said.

They then came back to the council at another special meeting with 158
signatures, but before the council made a decision on the matter, one
of the council members spoke up, Smith said.

The council member said approving the signed petition would be against
city ordinances considering the people collecting signatures were not
registered voters of Dinosaur, Smith said.

"They didn't do it the right way," he said. "So, when it came to my
attention at a meeting, these names and stuff were useless. We
couldn't do anything with them and if I had, I could have opened the
city to a suit and I don't want that, either."

Smith also said the two people looking to open the dispensary didn't
secure a building to house the dispensary that would meet state and
local regulations.

"If you don't have all of your T's crossed and your I's dotted, it
would be shut down in a second," he said.

Smith said the prospective dispensary owners were wanting to open the
dispensary before new state laws created by Colorado House Bill
10-1284 took affect July 1.

Town attorney Ed Sands, based in Rifle, said the new state legislation
creates a moratorium on new dispensaries from opening after July 1,
but dispensaries licensed at the time can remain open at least until
July 2011.

Smith said he is "all for new businesses," even in the form of a
dispensary.

"You know, it brings money into the city and I'm all for that," he
said.

But, Smith said he remains neutral on the subject despite meeting with
some residents who need medical marijuana but are forced to purchase
it elsewhere.

The town council, Smith said, is not as neutral as he
is.

"I got some people that flat don't want it," he said of dispensaries
in Dinosaur.

At least one council member, Smith said, would like to draft an
ordinance to close the town to dispensaries, but is not receiving
enough support from the rest of the council.

Smith said he is "fighting the board" to not draft an ordinance
banning dispensaries, but instead wants to let voters decide.

"I think that is the way it should be," he said. "Let the folks
decide. I'm the mayor, not the boss."