LONGMONT TO WEIGH MEDICAL POT OPTIONS

LONGMONT -- With the ink long dry on a state law that regulates
marijuana dispensaries, the City Council is scheduled tonight to
consider whether to set up local licensing and rules or ban
dispensaries outright.

A city survey, however, indicates that a majority of city residents
don't support a ban, according to materials prepared for the council
to review.

Longmont already has a moratorium on new dispensaries until June 2011
to give the council time to debate a more permanent plan for
regulating dispensaries.

According to the city's annual customer satisfaction survey, 57
percent of those interviewed either somewhat or strongly opposed a
complete ban on dispensing medical marijuana in the city. However,
those surveyed preferred buffers of at least 1,000 feet between
dispensaries and schools, child-care facilities, residential areas,
parks and other dispensaries.

City officials noted the survey generally reflected information
gathered directly from residents in person and on the Internet.

Councilmembers Gabe Santos and Katie Witt have said they would support
a ban.

A new state law signed June 7 includes a state licensure program,
mandatory registry with the state's Department of Revenue for tax
collections, various occupational licenses for those who work in the
medical marijuana industry and rules for the location of facilities.

The law also allows municipalities to tighten restrictions on
locations more broadly than the state-mandated 1,000 feet from a
school, college, child-care center, alcohol-or drug-treatment
facility or seminary, while following local zoning laws.

It also allows local governments to ban dispensaries, either by
ordinance or through a ballot question. The law does not allow the
council to ban those who qualify as primary caregivers, who are
allowed to have up to five patients.

Municipalities have until July 1, 2011, to enact local
regulations.

The council is scheduled to meet at 7 tonight at the Longmont Civic
Center.