NO TO POT EXPANSION

Based on discussion at the commissioners' meeting this week, Chaffee
County appears poised to be setting in place land use stipulations for
marijuana growing and manufacturing operations.

By establishing requirements now, commissioners hope to stay a step
ahead of state legislation now being considered in the Capitol.
Stiffer regulations set by the county could preclude more permissive
statutes set by legislators.

That at least is the theory.

What's happening is Colorado is moving closer to becoming an open
market for pot production, use and export. The steps are incrementally
small but taken as a whole are nonetheless significant.

When voters approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes in
2000, none of this was foreseen. But two things happened. First, the
Obama administration said it would no longer prosecute pot cases in
states where voters approved pot for medical purposes. Second, the
state medical board changed regulations on growers and the number of
patients they could serve.

The result has been an explosion in the pot industry. From about 5,000
medical marijuana users, the number of "sick" folks needing a dose of
pot has blossomed to 175,000 or so, and this number was as of last
summer. The number of patients using weed has no doubt increased.

Yes, some people have found relief from use of some form of the drug.
We don't question these uses or users. But we don't buy the notion
that the exponential increase in users has any medical foundation whatsoever.

Putting "medical" before marijuana is more than a misnomer, it's a
joke. Only there's no one laughing at the punch line other than those
benefiting from the production and sale of the weed.

If commissioners follow through on zoning as discussed this week, it
appears only pot growing and pot manufacturing operations would be
allowed in the county. Under these regulations, and subject to
whatever statutes come out of the Legislature, growers would sell
product to pot retailers located in municipalities or to other shops
in other counties and cities. In other words, the county would have
the distinction of becoming a pot exporter.

Even at this point, without having taken official action, there are
three pot growers in the county that are being "grandfathered."
Apparently, this means that if commissioners were to decide that no
grow or manufacturing operations would be allowed in the county, these
three would not be affected because they were in place before county
regulations were approved.

Marijuana should be strictly limited to legitimate medical needs,
prescribed by medical doctors who can diagnose a bona fide medical
condition who then monitor their patients over time, writing
additional prescriptions as necessary.

Otherwise, when they take up the question at their Tuesday meeting, we
urge commissioners to put a stop to any further expansion of pot
growing or manufacturing operations in the county.

Take all precautions

Here it is, still February and already firefighters were called out on
Wednesday to a wildfire just south of the city, forcing evacuation of
several homes and businesses.

It's not difficult to see the hazard. Since last fall, the valley has
received little moisture. The ground is frozen and grass, bushes, dead
leaves, weeds and small trees are extremely dry. Then with winds of 10
to 20 mph, controlled burns and other fires can quickly become raging
blazes threatening buildings and putting people and firefighters at
risk.

Those thinking about burning weeds should take all precautions to
ensure that any outside fire be closely and carefully monitored and
contained.