ALAMOSA SNUFFS POT SHOPS

ALAMOSA -- City Council banned medical marijuana dispensaries within
city limits Wednesday, citing the availability of them in the county.

The measure, which passed on a 4-2 vote, also places a prohibition on
growing facilities or businesses that sell products containing marijuana.

"It doesn't mean it's going to be forever," Mayor Kathy Rogers said,
adding that the city could reconsider if there is greater demand.

But in the meantime, councilors decided to forego any such shops in
city limits, noting that in the November election, voters called for
the county to allow the facilities in unincorporated areas.

In making the decision, Rogers noted that the town's police department
had weighed in earlier in the year with concerns over allowing them.

Councilor Josef Lucero, who voted for the ban, expressed concerns that
there is no agency like the U.S. Food & Drug Administration that might
be able to regulate the quality of the products sold at such facilities.

Although the city had hosted a well-attended forum on the matter last
year, only five people spoke on the ordinance Wednesday night.

Leon Moyer said the city's ban would hurt potential
consumers.

"You're limiting competition," he said, adding that the city would
probably also miss out on a healthy chunk of sales tax revenue by
enacting the ban.

The analysis of the ban by city staff said it was impossible to
estimate how much tax revenue was at stake.

Ruthie Brown, a gardening store owner, said some customers told her
they were leaving the valley to buy medical marijuana.

Not instituting the ban would mean such people could have more
options.

Moreover, she told councilors how medical pot had helped her sister
through illness in California.

"I'm not afraid of it and I don't think you guys should be either,"
Brown said.

Councilor Charlie Griego, who along with Marcia Tuggle also voted
against the ban, said the city should heed the county's vote even
though it doesn't apply to the city.

He reasoned that since the city residents voted in favor of that
measure, they must also want it in the city.

Tuggle said the city shouldn't be denying the option to their
citizens.

"I don't think it's fair to tell people to just go to the county," she
said.

The county's lone dispensary sits just east of town on U.S. 160.