CITY TO MOVE FORWARD ON POT ISSUES

AURORA | Regulations for medical marijuana home grow operations and
an ordinance to ban medical marijuana dispensaries within the city
will be voted on by the Aurora City Council at their next council
meeting on Dec. 6.

Council members decided to move forward with the medical marijuana
items at their regularly scheduled study session meeting Monday night.

The regulations regarding home grow operations, which were put forth
by council's Neighborhood Services Policy Committee, state that
marijuana plants should be grown within a licensed patient's primary
residence or a caregiver's primary residence, and they should only be
used by the patient to alleviate symptoms of a debilitating medical condition.

According to the proposals, grows need to be confined to the
residence, evidence of a home-grow operation will not be perceptible
from outside the residence, and grows will be limited to 150 square
feet of secured space within a single family unit.

"This recommendation seems to be the one that's most able to be
enforced without being intrusive," said Councilwoman Melissa Miller,
who was also the chairwoman of the Neighborhood Services Policy
Committee. "We're trying not to be invasive in accordance with the
state Constitution."

Amendment 20, passed by Colorado voters in 2000, allows for
caregivers to have five patients and grow six marijuana plants per patient.

Anyone who violates the ordinance could spend up to one year in
prison pay up to a $1,000 fine, or both.

Patients or caregivers needing more plants as medically necessary are
only allowed to grow them in industrial zones.

Council members on Monday evening also moved the ban on medical
marijuana dispensaries to their regular session. According to
unofficial results, 42,850 residents voted to approve ballot measure
2B, while 40,013 voted against it. Council members will take action
at a Dec. 6 regular council meeting to approve the ordinance that
will officially prohibit dispensaries within the city, per voters' request.