MEDICAL POT BAN WON`T PUT ISSUE TO REST

There seems to be little visible public support for allowing medical
marijuana dispensaries in Fort Morgan.

When the Fort Morgan City Council held a public hearing last week to
give city residents an opportunity to express their views on the
issue, only one person showed up to speak.

Not exactly a groundswell.

But the man who did offer his input was a disabled veteran who suffers
from arthritis, glaucoma and the effects of a traumatic brain injury.
And he is an example of the sort of legitimate user of medicinal
marijuana that makes the whole matter a more thorny one than it might
otherwise be.

A couple of members of the city council acknowledged that even those
who genuinely benefit from their use of marijuana for its medicinal
effects might be reluctant to stand up at a televised public meeting
and say so.

Some council members said they had asked their constituents and
received input on the issue that was overwhelmingly in favor of having
the city ban medical marijuana operations on its own, without putting
it on the ballot for a vote of the people.

A public vote was one option the council had, but with the lack of
much impetus in favor of allowing marijuana dispensaries, or even much
support for leaving the decision to voters, the council has decided to
proceed with the drafting of an ordinance that will ban such
operations. This measure will then be put to a vote of the seven
residents who sit on the city council, and all indications are that it
will be approved with little debate, and likely without any dissent.

So this was probably a sound decision by the council, especially given
that there are costs associated with ballot measures.

But when the council does vote to ban medicinal marijuana businesses,
it will not necessarily be the end of the issue.

Some supporters of growing operations and dispensaries have threatened
to sue local governments that enact outright bans. The state has
created regulations for medical marijuana, and these advocates believe
it ought to be widely available.

The man who spoke at last week`s council meeting said he must drive to
Denver to have his monthly prescription filled, and that may not sound
like such a heavy burden to most of us. But then again, most of us are
probably in better health than this man.

The issue of medical marijuana is almost a no-win, it seems, with the
threat of litigation if it is banned and the specter of crime and
other negative impacts if it is allowed.

Fort Morgan officials appear well on their way to making what they
believe is the best decision, and we hope it works out that way.

But it`s not likely to be the last we hear of medical marijuana.