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The Larimer County com-missioners on Monday unanimously approved a seven-month moratorium on issuing licenses for business related to medical marijuana.
The commissioners said county planning officials need time to determine the land-use impacts of medical-marijuana businesses, including dispensaries and cultiva-tion sites, and develop pertinent regulations.
Commissioner Steve Johnson said the issue wasn't about the legality of medical marijuana but the potential for adverse land-use impacts, including health-and-safety issues.
Johnson said research he's done on California's experience in dealing with medical marijuana indicates there have been problems with increased criminal activity and fire hazards at indoor growing facilities.
The county needs to develop the proper land-use and zoning regulations for the industry, he said.
"I think we have to have a level playing field where we can protect our county resi-dents with adequate regulations just as the cities have seen fit to do," he said.
Sheriff Jim Alderden told the commissioners several problems have been found with indoor marijuana-growing operations, including fire code violations from im-proper electrical wiring.
The area has seen a surge in businesses seeking licenses to dispense medical marijuana, he said.
As of Monday, Fort Collins had 83 dispensaries that had been licensed or were awaiting approval, Alderden said. Loveland has more than 20.
Last week, the Fort Collins City Council passed a three-month moratorium on issuing sales tax licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries. Loveland passed a 10-month moratorium a few weeks ago.
Timnath and Estes Park have established moratoriums and Berthoud is expected to act soon, Alderden said.
Without a moratorium covering unincorporated parts of the county, dispensary operators who could not get licenses in municipalities "are coming right here to Larimer County," he said.
Drew Brown, co-owner of the Abundant Healing wellness center in Fort Collins, said too much "negativity" has surrounded the medical marijuana issue.
Many businesses want to operate "the right way," he said.
Brown said legitimate businesses want to work with the county as it develops its land-use rules.
The patients and the people have already spoken about this issue and they want this, he said.
The Larimer County com-missioners on Monday unanimously approved a seven-month moratorium on issuing licenses for business related to medical marijuana.
The commissioners said county planning officials need time to determine the land-use impacts of medical-marijuana businesses, including dispensaries and cultiva-tion sites, and develop pertinent regulations.
Commissioner Steve Johnson said the issue wasn't about the legality of medical marijuana but the potential for adverse land-use impacts, including health-and-safety issues.
Johnson said research he's done on California's experience in dealing with medical marijuana indicates there have been problems with increased criminal activity and fire hazards at indoor growing facilities.
The county needs to develop the proper land-use and zoning regulations for the industry, he said.
"I think we have to have a level playing field where we can protect our county resi-dents with adequate regulations just as the cities have seen fit to do," he said.
Sheriff Jim Alderden told the commissioners several problems have been found with indoor marijuana-growing operations, including fire code violations from im-proper electrical wiring.
The area has seen a surge in businesses seeking licenses to dispense medical marijuana, he said.
As of Monday, Fort Collins had 83 dispensaries that had been licensed or were awaiting approval, Alderden said. Loveland has more than 20.
Last week, the Fort Collins City Council passed a three-month moratorium on issuing sales tax licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries. Loveland passed a 10-month moratorium a few weeks ago.
Timnath and Estes Park have established moratoriums and Berthoud is expected to act soon, Alderden said.
Without a moratorium covering unincorporated parts of the county, dispensary operators who could not get licenses in municipalities "are coming right here to Larimer County," he said.
Drew Brown, co-owner of the Abundant Healing wellness center in Fort Collins, said too much "negativity" has surrounded the medical marijuana issue.
Many businesses want to operate "the right way," he said.
Brown said legitimate businesses want to work with the county as it develops its land-use rules.
The patients and the people have already spoken about this issue and they want this, he said.
