Post by localone on Dec 31, 2009 14:01:14 GMT -7
Dear South City Park residents:
Attached and copied below is the proposed article that will appear in the SCPNA newsletter regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. We are sending this email and the article at the present time for two reasons:
1. The article contains a proposed resolution. We wanted to present the proposed language in advance of the meeting to give residents an opportunity to review it, provide input and suggest changes.
2. The resolution will not be voted on until our January 20th, 2010 meeting. Denver City Council will do initial consideration of the City's proposed new regulations on January 4th, 2010 with a final vote on January 11th, 2010. If you want to provide your input to City Council you should contact your representatives prior to January 4th and let your position be known. Sending the resolution to the City after the January 20th meeting will be too late (unless the regulations are reconsidered in the future). Representatives for South City Park are:
City Councilwoman District 8-Carla Madison Carla.Madison@denvergov.org
At Large Councilman-Doug Linkhart linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org
At Large Councilwoman-Carol Boigan carol.boigon@denvergov.org
City Council General address dencc@ci.denver.co.us
The proposed article and resolution about medical marijuana dispensaries evolved out of our SCPNA December planning meetings. In addition to providing personal input to City Council, we encourage your comments at the web site (http://www.scpna.org).
Thank you,
Jim Slotta-for SCPNA
Proposed SCPNA Newsletter Article (containing proposed SCPNA Resolution):
MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY
The South City Park Neighborhood Association received an email on November 20, 2009, from the owner of a zoned-for-business property, indicating that the owner signed a lease with a company that intends to operate a medical marijuana dispensary/wellness center on the property, located in the 1500 Block of Adams Street in South City Park. The property owner indicated that the new tenant had assured the following:
Signage - no references to pot or marijuana or any pot leaves
No loitering on or about the premises. Patients are to wait in the waiting area.
The front of the premises will not change in any way with the exception of signage.
They will install security cameras and glass reinforcing film on the windows.
They will be installing a 500# safe bolted to the basement floor
No product will be left out overnight.
No cash will be on site overnight.
The property owner knew these things are somewhat controversial, and wanted to give the neighborhood a heads up, not wanting the info to come from someone else.
There have been many articles in the news lately about medical marijuana dispensaries. Denver police indicate that there have been at least 25 robberies or burglaries related to medical marijuana including 13 at dispensaries since July. Governor Ritter's office reported that as of mid-August 3/4 of marijuana recommendations came from 15 doctors, half of whom operated on restricted licenses. As of December 15th, 194 sales tax licenses had been issued to medical marijuana dispensaries. Los Angeles is having similar issues and is considering restrictions that would shut down all but 5 of its 800 to 1000 dispensaries.
New laws are being considered here as well. The ordinance that Denver is currently considering would only prevent dispensaries from opening within 1000 feet of one another and within 1000 feet of schools and child care centers. Note that this would not impact the dispensary on Adams Street, and that additional dispensaries might be allowed in South City Park. Councilwoman Boigon's tougher proposal to bar dispensaries from locating close to city parks, churches and public buildings was not supported by other council members according to the Denver Post. There are also several proposals at the state level to adopt more stringent marijuana rules including one proposal from the law enforcement community that was recently supported by the Post in an editorial.
Several residents have expressed concerns about having this type of business in our neighborhood. Concerns include criminal activity and proximity to residential areas, schools and parks. They have suggested that SCPNA go on record at its January 20th meeting as supporting stricter new laws that would prevent dispensaries from operating in the neighborhood. If a resolution is passed, SCPNA's opposition to dispensaries can then be shared with our elected officials and we can ask that they be as restrictive as possible. If a resolution does not pass, SCPNA will not take a position on whether dispensaries should be located in the neighborhood. The business owner, who has leased the Adams Street property and plans to operate the medical marijuana dispensary/wellness center, has been invited to attend the meeting.
The following proposed resolution will be discussed at the January SCPNA meeting:
The South City Park Neighborhood Association is opposed to allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to be located in the neighborhood. SCPNA asks that local and state elected officials adopt new laws and regulations that will prevent medical marijuana dispensaries from operating within its boundaries.
Please attend the meeting, learn about the dispensary and make your feelings on this issue known.