MEDICAL POT COULD SAVE THE BLUEGRASS

It Will Bring in $600,000-Plus This Year

Medical marijuana may be the best hope for the grass in our parks.

Most in Colorado Springs are holding their breath and praying for
continued rain, as recession-era budget cuts have resulted in a
reduction in the city's ability to irrigate. We can't depend on rain,
which can be scarce, but we can depend on revenue from medical marijuana sales.

So far this year, the city has collected $327,500 in sales tax
revenue from medical marijuana sales alone. By the end of the year,
the city will likely collect more than $600,000. It's chicken feed,
relative to the size of the budget. But it's substantial, relative to
the needs of grass in our parks.

Kurt Schroeder, the city's manager of parks, trails and open space,
told The Gazette this year's anticipated sales tax revenue from
marijuana almost equals the amount of money needed to put the nearly
24 inches of water recommended each year for the city's 634 acres of
neighborhood parks. Under today's budget constrictions, Schroeder is
able to apply only 15 inches of water to the neighborhood parks.

"That money could protect a capital resource that's vulnerable to
weather and budget conditions," Schroeder said.

City officials say medical marijauna sales tax revenue and permits
could bring $1.2 million to city coffers in 2011 - far more than
enough to save the grass.

The revenue from medical marijuana sales taxes could fund the ongoing
costs of employing eight to 10 new firefighters or cops. One year's
worth of medical marijuana sales tax revenue could pay the wage of
the proposed full-time strong mayor for more than five years. It
could fill potholes galore. It could pay to operate and maintain 18
Uncle Wilber fountains, while today we can't afford the one we have.

So, should we ban dispensaries in response to irrational fears, scare
stories and ominous theories of "Reefer Madness" doom? Absolutely out
of the question. The revenue generated by this relatively harmless
trade could solve some of the most high-profile budget constraints.

Beyond the advantage to our city budget, the medical marijuana trade
has put paying tenants into commercial space that was empty. That
protects the value of commercial real estate and puts money into the
pockets of property owners who spend it throughout the community.
Dispensaries have transformed a black market trade, which burdened
the public, into a legitimate industry that helps the common good.

The case for protecting the medical marijuana trade in Colorado
Springs grows stronger as counties and other communities forbid the
industry. That's because people restricted from buying and selling
medical marijuana in other locations will gladly travel to cities and
counties that allow it. For Colorado Springs, this means the
potential of growing sales tax revenues with money from out-of-town -
which means we will see primary economic growth.

City Council should consider directing money from medical grass to
the cost of watering and maintaining bluegrass in our parks. That
would make perfectly clear the value of this new sector of production
and trade.

- - Wayne Laugesen , editorial page editor, for the editorial board.