CLOCK TICKING ON WINDSOR POT SHOPS AFTER VOTE

WINDSOR -- By mid-May, Windsor likely will be without any medical
marijuana dispensaries.

After Windsor voters last week approved an ordinance banning
dispensaries, the two existing shops will have to close down

180 days from when the Nov. 2 election is certified. Town Clerk Patti
Garcia estimates the election will be certified Tuesday, which would
mean both shops -- In Harmony Wellness, 4630 Royal Vista Circle, and A
New Dawn Wellness Clinic, 5201⁄2 Main St. -- will have until May
8.

More than 7,500 Windsor residents spoke out Tuesday on Question 300.
Windsor voters in Weld and Larimer counties who were in favor of
banning the operation of medical marijuana centers strongly
outnumbered the voters who supported the dispensaries. The vote total
was 5,035 in favor of banning to 2,606 who were not.

Tina Valenti, owner of In Harmony Wellness, said she thinks the
question on the ballot is constitutionally wrong.

"I truly believe we have a right to be here and a duty to be here,"
Valenti said. "I don't think that's constitutional to shut down an
existing business."

In Harmony Wellness has 255 Windsor patients. Valenti said she has
already heard from some who are concerned about where they will go.

"They are concerned and rightfully so," Valenti said. "We promised to
be these people's caregiver."

Valenti said she plans to operate and continue to help the
patients.

"We have employees and people who depend on us," Valenti said. "That's
why we got into it."

Valenti said people need to look at the benefits that cannabis
actually provides.

"People are just following what they've been spoon-fed for 70-plus
years," Valenti said. "Why can't responsible adults use it in a
socially responsible ways?"

Windsor resident Michael Kelly, a former town board member, helped to
get Question 300 on the ballot. He wasn't surprised by the large margin.

"When the first question was asked back in April, it was 80 to 20
whether to limit it to two," Kelly said. "That's why we wrote the
petition because the question had to get asked. Do the citizens want
them in town or not? It's not that I agree or disagree with what they
do. I know people who it's actually helped them, but the people should
have the right to decide whether they do or don't want them."

From here, board members will look at the regulatory ordinance in
place and remove the parts that regulate licensing and dispensaries.
According to town attorney Ian McCargar, board members will likely
keep the language about caregivers. Each caregiver can have five
patients but may not cultivate more than 24 plants at one address or
in a space greater than 400 cubic feet.

"The board will enforce and defend what the voters have approved,"
McCargar said.

Valenti said in order to serve the 300 patients in Windsor, A New Dawn
Wellness and Valenti's store combined, 60 caregivers would be needed.

"We are a community of patients here," Valenti said. "Windsor had the
perfect opportunity to embrace people like us."

Windsor Now reporter T.M. Fasano contributed to this story.