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Town imposes pot moratorium
By Chris Michlewicz
Castle Rock officials will await possible legislative directives by the state and conduct further research before deciding how to regulate marijuana dispensaries.
The town has recently been approached by several business owners who are interested in opening dispensaries, which have been a growing topic of discussion since the federal Drug Enforcement Administration announced it would no longer crack down on shops that sell medical marijuana. Voters in 13 states, including Colorado, have approved marijuana use for medicinal purposes.
The vagueness of Amendment 20, which passed in 2000, has created a conundrum for police officers who must enforce federal laws under the Controlled Substance Act while considering the rights of medical marijuana users.
“We’re stuck trying to wade through that,” said Castle Rock town attorney Bob Slentz.
Douglas County adopted temporary land use regulations last week that essentially prohibit the establishment of marijuana dispensaries for 180 days in unincorporated areas, including Highlands Ranch. Castle Rock’s leaders decided during a meeting Oct. 27 to direct staff to draw up an ordinance that allows for 120 days for further research into the subject. Other towns throughout Colorado are grappling with the conflicting federal and state laws and have imposed moratoriums, instituted regulations and even banned the dispensaries. Colorado Springs, Greenwood Village and Aurora have prohibited the shops on the grounds that marijuana is illegal and still considered a controlled substance.
Slentz said a recent survey showed that out of 90 Colorado jurisdictions who have considered regulations, 26 of them allowed dispensaries with guideline. Approximately 25 of those are on a temporary moratorium to enable more time for discussion.
Castle Rock and Franktown already have one dispensary each, and there are 250 residents in Douglas County on the state’s medical marijuana registry, said Lauren Davis, a former deputy district attorney and current representative for patients in the Castle Rock area. She said her clients need safe access to medicinal marijuana instead of being forced to go to drug dealers. Mayor Randy Reed pointed out there are already local dispensaries in business and those are an option to patients right now.
The proposal of dispensaries in Castle Rock has some concerned about community safety. One business owner spoke during the Oct. 27 town council meeting and threatened to move her business if a marijuana shop opened nearby. Mark Marble, the pastor of Castle Rock Bible Church, said a dispensary could soon be moving into the same commercial center as his church.
“It will be a challenge for us as a church to have a dispensary 60 feet away,” he said.
But local patients, including a Castle Rock woman who suffers from epilepsy and has a medical marijuana card, attended the council meeting said more dispensaries are needed. She has proposed opening a holistic medicine shop called Plants for Life across from Castle Rock Town Hall on Wilcox Street.
Marijuana extract is already available in pill form at most pharmacies in Castle Rock.
Councilman Paul Donahue said a lack of regulation for dispensaries opens the industry up to abuse.
“With the proper regulations and guidelines, it could be viable to the town,” he said, adding the shops could be “helpful to many of our residents who need medicine.”
Slentz said Castle Rock has control over zoning for the businesses, including distances from schools, daycares and parks, and said they can be regulated so it is safe for them to exist in the community.
“It’s up to us to decide where these places should be,” he said.
Castle Rock Police chief Tony Lane said law enforcement is not opposed to the legitimate use of medical marijuana, but officers need clear definitions on enforcement.
“We want to see it work for everybody,” Lane said.
Council voted 4-2 in favor of the dispensary moratorium, and members expressed a desire to clarify local regulations and close loopholes before new council members are elected in April.
The town has recently been approached by several business owners who are interested in opening dispensaries, which have been a growing topic of discussion since the federal Drug Enforcement Administration announced it would no longer crack down on shops that sell medical marijuana. Voters in 13 states, including Colorado, have approved marijuana use for medicinal purposes.
The vagueness of Amendment 20, which passed in 2000, has created a conundrum for police officers who must enforce federal laws under the Controlled Substance Act while considering the rights of medical marijuana users.
“We’re stuck trying to wade through that,” said Castle Rock town attorney Bob Slentz.
Douglas County adopted temporary land use regulations last week that essentially prohibit the establishment of marijuana dispensaries for 180 days in unincorporated areas, including Highlands Ranch. Castle Rock’s leaders decided during a meeting Oct. 27 to direct staff to draw up an ordinance that allows for 120 days for further research into the subject. Other towns throughout Colorado are grappling with the conflicting federal and state laws and have imposed moratoriums, instituted regulations and even banned the dispensaries. Colorado Springs, Greenwood Village and Aurora have prohibited the shops on the grounds that marijuana is illegal and still considered a controlled substance.
Slentz said a recent survey showed that out of 90 Colorado jurisdictions who have considered regulations, 26 of them allowed dispensaries with guideline. Approximately 25 of those are on a temporary moratorium to enable more time for discussion.
Castle Rock and Franktown already have one dispensary each, and there are 250 residents in Douglas County on the state’s medical marijuana registry, said Lauren Davis, a former deputy district attorney and current representative for patients in the Castle Rock area. She said her clients need safe access to medicinal marijuana instead of being forced to go to drug dealers. Mayor Randy Reed pointed out there are already local dispensaries in business and those are an option to patients right now.
The proposal of dispensaries in Castle Rock has some concerned about community safety. One business owner spoke during the Oct. 27 town council meeting and threatened to move her business if a marijuana shop opened nearby. Mark Marble, the pastor of Castle Rock Bible Church, said a dispensary could soon be moving into the same commercial center as his church.
“It will be a challenge for us as a church to have a dispensary 60 feet away,” he said.
But local patients, including a Castle Rock woman who suffers from epilepsy and has a medical marijuana card, attended the council meeting said more dispensaries are needed. She has proposed opening a holistic medicine shop called Plants for Life across from Castle Rock Town Hall on Wilcox Street.
Marijuana extract is already available in pill form at most pharmacies in Castle Rock.
Councilman Paul Donahue said a lack of regulation for dispensaries opens the industry up to abuse.
“With the proper regulations and guidelines, it could be viable to the town,” he said, adding the shops could be “helpful to many of our residents who need medicine.”
Slentz said Castle Rock has control over zoning for the businesses, including distances from schools, daycares and parks, and said they can be regulated so it is safe for them to exist in the community.
“It’s up to us to decide where these places should be,” he said.
Castle Rock Police chief Tony Lane said law enforcement is not opposed to the legitimate use of medical marijuana, but officers need clear definitions on enforcement.
“We want to see it work for everybody,” Lane said.
Council voted 4-2 in favor of the dispensary moratorium, and members expressed a desire to clarify local regulations and close loopholes before new council members are elected in April.
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Marquette Alumni wrote on Nov 3, 2009 11:11 PM: