Crawford council opposes retail pot
The Nov. 7 Crawford Town Council meeting was recessed rather than adjourned so that the council could take action on Colorado's voters approval of Amendment 64, which legalized recreational marijuana.
The Town of Crawford banned by ordinance and through a subsequent municipal election this past April any commercial medical marijuana establishments.
The April vote was 57 for prohibition and 45 opposed.
At the Nov. 6 general election, those who voted in the Crawford precinct which includes in-town voters and out-of-town registered voters, those in favor of approving Amendment 64 won by one vote. The Crawford precinct vote was 369 in favor and 368 opposed.
The council considered whether to repeal the medical marijuana prohibition which was requested by Jay Zieglar, who, while it was still legal in Crawford, had sold medical marijuana. The council quickly set aside that request.
Next they considered whether they should enact a moratorium until the general election in 2014 or pass an ordinance to ban commercial recreational marijuana establishments or, finally, to do nothing and see if the federal government steps in and tells the State of Colorado it can't make marijuana legal while it remains a federal offense.
Hetty Todd and Wanda Gofforth immediately called for an ordinance similar to the town's medical marijuana ordinance.
James Sorensen suggested waiting until the general election in 2014. He wanted the council to proceed carefully and think about the ordinance language.
Mike Tiedeman was for an ordinance prohibiting commercial marijuana.
Christie Young said she was not opposed to an ordinance but was thinking of waiting until the election. She was worried about the message to young people by legalizing marijuana.
The council unanimously approved having the town attorney draft an ordinance prohibiting commercial marijuana businesses within town limits.
The next town council meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
If the council approves the language of the ordinance, there will be a public hearing probably in January.
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