Wellington bans sales of medical marijuana

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Medical marijuana dispensaries won't be setting up in Wellington, the town board of trustees has decided.

The board on July 13 adopted an ordinance that prohibits the operation of medical marijuana centers, cultivation operations and manufacture of medical marijuana-infused products.

The new ordinance took effect immediately, but it changed nothing because Wellington has had a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries since Nov. 24.

Colorado voters legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2000, but applications to open dispensaries throughout the state didn't materialize until 2009. Much of the interest was attributed to the Obama Administration's announcement that it would not pursue or arrest medical marijuana users and caregivers if they comply with state law.

At the July meeting, town attorney Brad March noted that the town's ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana. It does, however, impose the maximum restrictions the state allows municipalities to place on commercial vendors of medical marijuana.

March advised the town board that lawsuits challenging the Colorado Medical Marijuana Code passed by the state legislature this year could prevail, but for now Wellington's ordinance is legal.

The board received no public comments and didn't discuss the ordinance among its members before adopting it on a 6-0 vote.