COMMISSIONERS STRIKE DOWN ANY NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN UNINCORPORATED
WELD

Weld County commissioners slammed the door Monday on any new medical
marijuana growing or dispensing in unincorporated areas of the county.

The commissioners, with a 5-0 vote, approved on final reading an
ordinance that prohibits the cultivation, manufacture, distribution or
sale of medical marijuana or medical marijuana-infused products. The
exception is those primary caregivers or patients who were licensed by
the state prior to June 1 of this year.

The commissioners said that while the Colorado Legislature approved
regulations on medical marijuana during the last session, it remains a
federal violation.

"Until the state gets in line with the federal government or the
federal government gets in line with the state, there's not much we
can do," Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer said in voting to pass the
ordinance. But the commissioners also recognized that legislators will
address the issue next year and the ordinance could be revised at that
point. All of them also recognized that there are current illegal
growing operations throughout the county that have drawn the attention
of county, state and federal law enforcement agencies when they are
notified and have caused "serious problems," said Commissioner Dave
Long.

"My biggest concern is that (marijuana production) is still against
federal law," Chairman Doug Rademacher said.

In other action Monday: Commissioners presented recognition of services
documents to members of the Weld County Rural Task Force, which worked
for about a year developing amendments to certain county codes that
pertain to rural areas of the county. Those on the task force included
Ted Carlson, Les Hardesty, Tom Haren, Jerry Hergenreder, Tom Holton,
Mark Pelzel, Lynda Pruett, Lar Voss and Fred Walker.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to take legal action against
James Wrenfrow for violation of the county code. Wrenfrow operates a
trash collection business in southwest Weld and has dumped up to six
loads of compacted trash on his own land rather than taking it to a
landfill in the area, according to county health department officials.
Wrenfrow could not attend Monday's meeting, said Troy Swain of the
health department, as he had contracted another company to make his
trash pickup rounds Monday and was helping with him. Wrenfrow also
told Swain that all his trucks were inoperable and the county could
take any action they wanted.

Commissioners voted to give Wrenfrow 24 hours to take care of the
situation, then at that time either the county public works department
or a private business would move into the area and clean it.