WELLINGTON BANS SALES OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Medical marijuana dispensaries won't be setting up in Wellington, the
town board of trustees has decided.

The board on July 13 adopted an ordinance that prohibits the operation
of medical marijuana centers, cultivation operations and manufacture
of medical marijuana-infused products.

The new ordinance took effect immediately, but it changed nothing
because Wellington has had a moratorium on medical marijuana
dispensaries since Nov. 24.

Colorado voters legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2000, but
applications to open dispensaries throughout the state didn't
materialize until 2009. Much of the interest was attributed to the
Obama Administration's announcement that it would not pursue or arrest
medical marijuana users and caregivers if they comply with state law.

At the July meeting, town attorney Brad March noted that the town's
ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana. It does, however,
impose the maximum restrictions the state allows municipalities to
place on commercial vendors of medical marijuana.

March advised the town board that lawsuits challenging the Colorado
Medical Marijuana Code passed by the state legislature this year could
prevail, but for now Wellington's ordinance is legal.

The board received no public comments and didn't discuss the ordinance
among its members before adopting it on a 6-0 vote.