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The Grand Junction City Council Legislative Committee decided Tuesday to recommend a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.
City council and legislative committee members — Mayor Bruce Hill, Linda Romer Todd and Tom Kenyon — agreed on the recommendation.
The proposal should be ready for presentation to the entire seven-member city council in November.
A moratorium would suspend the approval of any business applications for medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.
Medical marijuana outlets, which have been popping up all over Grand Junction, fill prescriptions for patients with chronic pain and other medical issues. Patients must have a doctor's prescription.
Amendment 20, approved by Colorado voters in 2000, legalized medical marijuana dispensaries. However, it did little to address the business and regulatory side of dispensing.
“We are supportive of the legal use of marijuana,” Kenyon said. “We need to control and regulate the distribution.”
Various options to handle the rapid growth of medical marijuana stores were discussed at the meeting.
City Attorney John Shaver outlined five levels of zoning ordinances, which run from basic zoning (condition-use permits) to a regulatory ban on such establishments.
The consensus from the committee was that something probably needs to be done. But what is unclear, and there needs to be thorough research and discussion.
“This could be conversation that takes some time,” Hill said.
A moratorium, which could last from nine to 12 months, would give council that “time out,” Shaver said.
That would be enough time to look at the community's best interests; seek public input; and, investigate the crime and fraud issues associated with these types of businesses, he said.
Shaver anticipates a moratorium, if passed, could be in place in 60 days.
Cities across Colorado are addressing the increasing growth of medical marijuana outlets within their borders.
Cities that have moratoriums in place include: Kremmling, Craig, Steamboat Springs, Silverthorne, Durango and Montrose.
Reach Tracy Dvorak at tdvorak@gjfreepress.com.
City council and legislative committee members — Mayor Bruce Hill, Linda Romer Todd and Tom Kenyon — agreed on the recommendation.
The proposal should be ready for presentation to the entire seven-member city council in November.
A moratorium would suspend the approval of any business applications for medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.
Medical marijuana outlets, which have been popping up all over Grand Junction, fill prescriptions for patients with chronic pain and other medical issues. Patients must have a doctor's prescription.
Amendment 20, approved by Colorado voters in 2000, legalized medical marijuana dispensaries. However, it did little to address the business and regulatory side of dispensing.
“We are supportive of the legal use of marijuana,” Kenyon said. “We need to control and regulate the distribution.”
Various options to handle the rapid growth of medical marijuana stores were discussed at the meeting.
City Attorney John Shaver outlined five levels of zoning ordinances, which run from basic zoning (condition-use permits) to a regulatory ban on such establishments.
The consensus from the committee was that something probably needs to be done. But what is unclear, and there needs to be thorough research and discussion.
“This could be conversation that takes some time,” Hill said.
A moratorium, which could last from nine to 12 months, would give council that “time out,” Shaver said.
That would be enough time to look at the community's best interests; seek public input; and, investigate the crime and fraud issues associated with these types of businesses, he said.
Shaver anticipates a moratorium, if passed, could be in place in 60 days.
Cities across Colorado are addressing the increasing growth of medical marijuana outlets within their borders.
Cities that have moratoriums in place include: Kremmling, Craig, Steamboat Springs, Silverthorne, Durango and Montrose.
Reach Tracy Dvorak at tdvorak@gjfreepress.com.
