The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“Pioneers get the arrows…settlers get the land”
Don’t expect to find medical marijuana dispensaries in Mt. Crested Butte any time soon—or any time at all, really.
When Western Holistics approached the town of Mt. Crested Butte this past March about opening a medical marijuana dispensary in town, the town said it needed time to evaluate its options. The council swiftly passed a 120-day moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Ordinance No. 1, Series 2010 established a temporary moratorium on the establishment or operation of any business that sells or trades in medical marijuana. It also established a penalty for violating the ordinance, imposing a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days.
At that time, town attorney Rod Landwehr said, “Until we know what [the state is] going to do, we don’t know exactly which way to go.”
“If [the dispensaries] meet the requirements of the state, we may have additional requirements, or we could outright ban them from this town.” He noted the state is “leaving the door open for local control. If communities don’t want them, they don’t have to have them.”
Following the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council meeting on Tuesday, July 6, the town is moving in the latter direction. The council revisited the item because the 120-day moratorium was nearing completion. The general consensus on the council during the meeting was that dispensaries are not compatible with the identity of Mt. Crested Butte as a “destination community.”
Councilperson Chris Morgan asked if it would be appropriate to extend the moratorium. “Can we extend the current moratorium?” he asked. “One of my favorite sayings is, ‘Pioneers get the arrows and settlers get the land.’ Let’s see what other towns do… see if it’s a good idea or not.”
Landwehr didn’t recommend that route. “The [current] ordinance is based upon letting the state come up with its regulations; it was intended to be a temporary measure. We have a variety of options, explored in towns and counties around the state. One of the options you have is to prohibit these things within the community.
“What we need to know is some direction to begin putting together an ordinance one way or another,” he added. “It’s time to make a decision.”
Councilman Gary Keiser said, “It seems to me it’s not really consistent with our identity as a destination community.” He also pointed out that there are five dispensaries three miles down the road in Crested Butte if patients need to get their medicine.
Mt. Crested Butte mayor William Buck said, “I’ve had enough input to move forward and draft to prohibit at this time.”
The town staff and town attorney were directed by the council to begin drafting an ordinance that would prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries in Mt. Crested Butte.
A first reading of the draft ordinance, and a public hearing, are expected at the July 20 council meeting.
