FLORENCE BANS POT DISPENSARIES

Ordinance prohibits medical marijuana facilities in the city

FLORENCE -- With a 5-2 vote, the Florence City Council approved an
ordinance to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries and associated
operations within the city limits Monday in its regular council meeting.

Councilman Charles Giebler and Councilwoman Nichole Prickett voted
against the ordinance while councilmen Joe Caruso, Larry Baker, Ron
Hinkle, Bruce Schneider and Mayor Paul Villagrana voted for it.

Hinkle said his vote reflected the attitudes of the citizens, business
owners and others in Fremont County.

Caruso said he had spoken to people, who are also against allowing
dispensaries in the area.

"The reason being, we have within a 5- or 6-mile radius, other locales
where somebody could get their medical marijuana," he said. "The
comment was made by an individual, the price of some of this can be
$100 or $200 an ounce or more. If they can afford to pay for that,
they (could) get a cab ride (to the dispensaries) at $15 or $20 a
trip. They don't want to see this type of business within the City of
Florence."

Geibler reminded the other council members that no one had spoken
against the dispensaries during the public meeting.

"I heard one lady said she wasn't against it, but she'd rather not see
it on Main Street," he said. "We always say they need to come to the
meetings and tell us what to do."

Villagrana agreed the dispensaries would bring in more revenue, but it
could bring in more crime, as well.

However, Baker also had talked to merchants up and down Main
Street.

"The consensus was really about 50/50," he said. "It really surprised
me. I have mixed emotions about it. Yes, there is the income we might
derive from it, but I don't think that should be the over riding
(cause to vote for it.)"

Hinkle agreed with Baker.

"I don't think a decision should be made on an unknown amount of
revenue," Hinkle said.

Prickett said that was not the basis for her decision.

"It is available near by, but I don't see a reason to make citizens
travel any further than need be and there is revenue to be made from
it," she said. "I don't think the once a month these centers are
broken into would be a real strain on the police department. We have
certain nuisances like alarms going off all the time, but we don't get
rid of those."

Caruso noted the legislature is contemplating enacting a law for
either a zero tolerance or 5 milligram for marijuana from a blood draw.

"There have been some cases in Colorado Springs on individuals who
were driving under the influence of marijuana, who did cause property
damage, to other vehicles and people, as well," Caruso said. "It's no
different than driving under the influence of alcohol."

Prickett asked Caruso how it would help patients by putting them on
the road to obtain marijuana.

"You can only be charged when you're on marijuana when you're driving
under the influence," she said. "If you're putting people in a vehicle
and they happen to consume it then drive home in a car when they can
get it right down the block from it."

It's no different from buying alcohol in a liquor store then opening
the container in the parking lot, Caruso said.

"You're also talking about ill people in pain, who might have impaired
judgement because of what they're suffering," Prickett said.

At that point, Finance officer Sunny Barnes pointed out they probably
should not be driving if they are impaired from much pain.

After discussing it for several more minutes, the council voted to
approve the ordinance to prohibit the medical marijuana dispensaries
and associated operations within city limits.

In other business, the council made the following decisions:

- -- Awarded a $41,790.25 bid to Patch Construction for the Frazier
Avenue box culvert project.

- -- Approved a TEC task order for phase 2 on the East Main Street
waterline project.

- -- Approved a TEC task order for $56,000 for raw water pump station
project.

- -- Approved a change order for clearwell project.

- -- Approved a request for Living Earth Church to use Mountain Park
from May 5-8 with an option of the second weekend of June in case of
snow.

- -- Approved a liquor license renewal for Main Street Grille &
Bakery.

- -- Approved a liquor license for renewal for Fremont
Lanes.

- -- Approved an employee Christmas bonus for $200.