FUTURE OF MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES REMAIN UNCERTAIN IN SALIDA

The future of medical marijuana dispensaries in Salida remains
uncertain after city council members discussed putting the question on
a special election ballot during their work session Tuesday morning.

Local medical marijuana licenses take effect July 1.

Information provided by city attorney Karl Hanlon, shows options for
regulating six dispensaries in the city include an election to propose
regulation, prohibition, and or taxing medical marijuana, banning
medical marijuana businesses and adopting local regulations in line
with HB 10-1284.

Jim Wilson, former Salida school superintendent, spoke against
allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city during the morning
work session because he couldn't attend the regular Tuesday night meeting.

"I'm here about availability," Wilson said. "I fully support medicine
that eases chronic pain in patients, but our community doesn't need to
be on the leading edge of medical marijuana dispensaries."

Wilson said the more accessible the drug is, the more kids will get
it. We will also lose our vacation destination charm if pot is so
readily accessible, he said.

"We don't have to help with access to marijuana," Wilson
said.

Salida Police Chief Terry Clark also spoke.

He said, "We're better off without the dispensaries, although so far
we've never had any problems with our six shops."

Hanlon said if a special election bans dispensaries or if the council
decides to approve an ordinance, medical marijuana cardholders could
choose to grow or go to a town that has a dispensary or connect with a
caregiver.

Clark said, "Care giving growing is a big concern of ours. If a
caregiver and his wife each have 6 patients, that's like 80-90 plants.
I have difficulty with that."

Councilmen discussed possibilities of regulating medical home
growers.

Hanlon said it's much more difficult on a constitutional front to
hinder an individual and a zoning amendment wouldn't be effective.

Councilman Scott Damman said council is wasting its time trying to
regulate medical marijuana.

"The worst-case scenario is we ban it and then it's impossible to
regulate," Damman said, "The best case is we drive it from our
community, but we can't do that because it would be in violation of
the constitution."

Two Colorado towns have already prohibited use of medical marijuana
dispensaries - Aurora and Avon. If Salida holds a special election
regarding legality of medical marijuana dispensaries, Hanlon said he
hopes it will be a simple ballot like the one in Aurora.

Hanlon said the question added to the Aurora November ballot
asked:

"Shall the operation and licensing of medical marijuana centers,
optional premises cultivation operations, and medical marijuana-infuse
products manufacturers be prohibited in the city of Aurora? Yes or
No."

Regular meeting discussion

The topic arose again during the regular 6 p.m. council meeting when
Hanlon delivered his regular report.

Council took no action during the meeting.

As part of his report, Hanlon said, "I was asked by the council to
prepare a ballot question. Two weeks from now there will be an
ordinance to set the ballot."

His remarks initiated comments from Colleen Kunkel, co-owner of
Tenderfoot Health Collective, who said, "In October 2009 the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration director announced legal marijuana patients
and centers would no longer be prosecuted.

"Now we are playing catch-up as the state and municipalities try to
figure out how to regulate this new industry.

"I would like Salida residents to understand if centers are banned it
will not make the industry go away."