Longmont Bans Dispensaries
Longmont last month unanimously voted to ban dispensaries within the city, according to the Longmont Times-Call. Councilwoman Sarah Levison called the vote one of the most difficult decisions she has had to make as an elected official. “This has not been an easy decision,” she told Longmont Times-Call.
The vote also bans marijuana-related businesses, such as those that produce edibles or grow cannabis. A proposed ordinance that would have allowed patients and caregivers to have up to 12 plants and take up no more than 150 square feet failed with a 4-3 vote.
While Colorado voters approved the medical use of marijuana, state regulations passed last year gives local governments the authority to regulate or prohibit dispensaries and related operations.
Legalization Advocates Push for 2012
Several efforts to legalize cannabis statewide are gearing up, according to the Denver Post. So far, at least eight initiatives that aim to legalize the use and possession (up to an ounce) for adults 21 and older have been filed. If any of the initiatives are approved, people would be able to legally grow up to six plants. Four years ago, voters shot down a ballot measure that would have legalized marijuana.
“I think people in this state have come to understand that marijuana is not the dangerous substance that law enforcement and the federal government have made it out to be,” said Brian Vicente, executive director of Sensible Colorado, which supports legalization.
Online Coupons for Meds the new trend?
More dispensaries are turning to online coupons to attract and offer discounts to patients, according to the Associated Press. For example, the Colorado-based mmjdailydeals.com dubs itself the first successful online cannabis coupon service and so far claims to have 10,000 subscribers. Site founder John Molinare said his site was a riff off the popular Groupon and LivingSocial sites. A Denver-based site, The 420 Deal, is currently accepting subscribers.
Ban Effort Rears Up in Fort Collins
Residents of Fort Collins have recently proposed an ordinance that would ban dispensaries, and are busy gathering signatures, according to the Coloradoan. Organizers have until July 19 to obtain 4,214 signatures from registered Fort Collins voters in order for the proposition to be considered by the City Council, which could adopt it or put it before voters.
Advocates oppose the ban, saying it would cut off patients from legitimate ways to access medicine and force them to seek it illegally. “It would be just like it was before,” Steve Ackerman, president of the Northern Colorado Medical Marijuana Business Council, was quoted as saying. “I think it’s really unfortunate it has come to this.”
