Following a half-hour discussion, the six-month extension allows town leaders additional time to adopt proper guidelines and procedures for licensing and regulating recreational marijuana ventures, said trustee Chip Tuthill. The moratorium could be lifted sooner if the town is able to adopt proper guidelines prior to June 30, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trustees are open to explore the matter further,\u201d said Mayor Rachel Simbeck. \u201cWe have a lot of things to look in to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nate Fate, co-business owner of the town\u2019s sole medical marijuana dispensary, urged town officials to extend the moratorium. Fate said officials would need time to sort through the state\u2019s 136-page guidelines in order to adopt proper zoning standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI strongly suggest the town be active,\u201d he told trustees.<\/p>\n
One-and-half percent of a state sales tax will be shared evenly with all municipalities who legalize recreational sales. Fate said the state projects those Colorado towns will evenly split upwards of $6 million in the first year alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryday, we have people come into our shop who are interested in purchasing retail marijuana,\u201d Fate said. \u201cI recommend the town move forward on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mancos resident Regina Roberts said she initially opposed recreational marijuana sales, but reminded trustees that 59 percent of local voters approved Amendment 66, which enables all state residents to cultivate, possess and consume marijuana.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time to listen to the people,\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n
Town administrator Andrea Phillips predicted the town could draft an appropriate ordinance to govern local sales within a couple of months. She expects to present town officials with a resolution to officially adopt the extended moratorium next month. The current moratorium expires Dec. 31.<\/p>\n
Town Marshal John Cox voiced the lone opposition to legalizing recreational marijuana sales at Wednesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m against retail sales,\u201d he said emphatically. \u201cThe extra revenue does not outweigh the risk to public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tuthill\u2019s motion to extend the moratorium also included a directive for town officials to examine the possibility of increasing a local four percent sales tax on retail marijuana sales. Any tax increase would require voter approval.<\/p>\n
More than half of Colorado cities and towns have completely prohibited retail marijuana shops from opening inside their jurisdictions. Another 15 percent of the state\u2019s municipalities have passed regulatory guidelines approving recreational sales and less than 10 percent, including Cortez and Dolores, have imposed some form of moratorium.<\/p>\n