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ENLARGE
Rifle just got a little greener.
But not in an environmental way. This green is in the form of a marijuana plant as the city's third medical marijuana dispensary opened downtown last week next to the Base Camp Cafe and Miller's Dry Goods on East Third Street.
According to city officials, there are currently three medical marijuana dispensaries in Rifle city limits — Green Cross on East Third Street, Rifle Mountain Dispensary on West Third Street and Herbal Outfitters in the Remington Square Plaza on West Fourth Street.
And with the growing number of medical marijuana dispensaries, Rifle City Council members on Wednesday, Nov. 4, passed an ordinance on first reading, establishing city regulations and zoning requirements for the facilities.
While the city is not regulating the businesses, they are putting rules in place that determine things such as where they can be located, hours of operation and signage.
“We're putting some location requirements,” said Assistant City Attorney Jim Neu. “They're only allowed in the Central Business District, only four can have ground level store fronts and they must be 500 feet apart from each other. We don't want the downtown area being taken over by them.”
Other requirements in the ordinance say that operators of a medical marijuana dispensary must be fingerprinted and a criminal background check will be done. Signs for medical marijuana dispensaries cannot use the word “marijuana,” “cannabis” or any other word or phrase commonly understood to refer to marijuana unless it is immediately preceded by the word “medical.” The marijuana must also be stored in a safe and secure location that would include a locking safe or secure vault.
A legal issue
Although Colorado voters approved the use of medical marijuana back in 2000, it is still against federal law. Neu said it has only been since the Obama administration, which said it would not be enforcing the federal law in states where medical marijuana use has been legalized, that dispensaries have been popping up.
But if pot is a legally prescribed drug, why shouldn't it be sold in pharmacies like other prescription drugs?
That's the thinking behind legislation recently proposed by Sen. Al White, R-Hayden who wants to regulate the industry and give the government more control over medical marijuana.
Kamela Morris is the manager of the newly opened Green Cross on East Third Street.
“We serve people with (ailments) such as glaucoma, AIDS and cancer,” Morris said. “We have five different types includes ointments, edibles smokeables, dried and butters.”
Cannabis is also very effective in healing skin disorders, Morris said.
“We're trying to create a world where people can legally use marijuana for whatever there ailments may be,” she added.
Patients must obtain a written prescription from their physician, which is then verified.
“We're treating a lot of senior citizens for pain,” Morris said. “But we're also going to be offering massage therapy and we'll be having a doctor coming into the facility. Holistic wellness is our focus.”
And while the city is trying to implement some regulations with regard to medical marijuana, it's still kind of confusing.
“It's all so new,” said Mayor Keith Lambert. “There's nothing to look at to go for guidance. We're looking at it almost from a land use position. The only thing we're doing is regulating things like security kinds of issues. “
Just another business
City council members approved the first reading of the ordinance 4-2 with councilors Jen Sanborn and Randy Winkler dissenting. On the issue of whether a marijuana leaf could be displayed on a sign, the council was split 3-3. Councilor Alan Lambert was absent from the meeting.
But so far, the neighboring businesses haven't had a problem with the dispensaries.
“I think their storefront is in extremely good taste,” said Gary Miller, owner of Miller's Dry Goods on East Third Street near Green Cross. “It's every well done. They're extremely professional. I have never used the product, so there's information I would like to know, like, can they smoke it on the street?”
According to Neu, Amendment 20 that voters passed, prohibits smoking medical marijuana in public places. Rifle's ordinance prohibits utilizing any form of the product that is in plain view or open to the general public.
On West Third Street, Rifle Mountain Dispensary opened about a month ago and provides edible medical marijuana, along with educational literature. Volunteers also provide services to clients with extra needs, such as rides to doctor's offices and therapy.
“We have so many types of patients,,” said John, the owner of Rifle Mountain Dispensary, who asked that his last name not be used as he also owns another business. “We treat people for things such as cancer, epilepsy, severe pain and unstable mental conditions.”
He said the medical marijuana helps patients to relax and deal with their pain better and does so in a natural way instead of using narcotics.
“We've had amazing results with people who have headaches and cancer patients,” John said. “We verify our client's prescriptions and records. We're not doctors, but we try to educate people..”
Along with smokeable marijuana, there are brownies, cupcakes, candies and breads.
The ordinance putting some regulations on where medical marijuana dispensaries could be located went before Rifle City Council members again on Nov. 18.
But not in an environmental way. This green is in the form of a marijuana plant as the city's third medical marijuana dispensary opened downtown last week next to the Base Camp Cafe and Miller's Dry Goods on East Third Street.
According to city officials, there are currently three medical marijuana dispensaries in Rifle city limits — Green Cross on East Third Street, Rifle Mountain Dispensary on West Third Street and Herbal Outfitters in the Remington Square Plaza on West Fourth Street.
And with the growing number of medical marijuana dispensaries, Rifle City Council members on Wednesday, Nov. 4, passed an ordinance on first reading, establishing city regulations and zoning requirements for the facilities.
While the city is not regulating the businesses, they are putting rules in place that determine things such as where they can be located, hours of operation and signage.
“We're putting some location requirements,” said Assistant City Attorney Jim Neu. “They're only allowed in the Central Business District, only four can have ground level store fronts and they must be 500 feet apart from each other. We don't want the downtown area being taken over by them.”
Other requirements in the ordinance say that operators of a medical marijuana dispensary must be fingerprinted and a criminal background check will be done. Signs for medical marijuana dispensaries cannot use the word “marijuana,” “cannabis” or any other word or phrase commonly understood to refer to marijuana unless it is immediately preceded by the word “medical.” The marijuana must also be stored in a safe and secure location that would include a locking safe or secure vault.
A legal issue
Although Colorado voters approved the use of medical marijuana back in 2000, it is still against federal law. Neu said it has only been since the Obama administration, which said it would not be enforcing the federal law in states where medical marijuana use has been legalized, that dispensaries have been popping up.
But if pot is a legally prescribed drug, why shouldn't it be sold in pharmacies like other prescription drugs?
That's the thinking behind legislation recently proposed by Sen. Al White, R-Hayden who wants to regulate the industry and give the government more control over medical marijuana.
Kamela Morris is the manager of the newly opened Green Cross on East Third Street.
“We serve people with (ailments) such as glaucoma, AIDS and cancer,” Morris said. “We have five different types includes ointments, edibles smokeables, dried and butters.”
Cannabis is also very effective in healing skin disorders, Morris said.
“We're trying to create a world where people can legally use marijuana for whatever there ailments may be,” she added.
Patients must obtain a written prescription from their physician, which is then verified.
“We're treating a lot of senior citizens for pain,” Morris said. “But we're also going to be offering massage therapy and we'll be having a doctor coming into the facility. Holistic wellness is our focus.”
And while the city is trying to implement some regulations with regard to medical marijuana, it's still kind of confusing.
“It's all so new,” said Mayor Keith Lambert. “There's nothing to look at to go for guidance. We're looking at it almost from a land use position. The only thing we're doing is regulating things like security kinds of issues. “
Just another business
City council members approved the first reading of the ordinance 4-2 with councilors Jen Sanborn and Randy Winkler dissenting. On the issue of whether a marijuana leaf could be displayed on a sign, the council was split 3-3. Councilor Alan Lambert was absent from the meeting.
But so far, the neighboring businesses haven't had a problem with the dispensaries.
“I think their storefront is in extremely good taste,” said Gary Miller, owner of Miller's Dry Goods on East Third Street near Green Cross. “It's every well done. They're extremely professional. I have never used the product, so there's information I would like to know, like, can they smoke it on the street?”
According to Neu, Amendment 20 that voters passed, prohibits smoking medical marijuana in public places. Rifle's ordinance prohibits utilizing any form of the product that is in plain view or open to the general public.
On West Third Street, Rifle Mountain Dispensary opened about a month ago and provides edible medical marijuana, along with educational literature. Volunteers also provide services to clients with extra needs, such as rides to doctor's offices and therapy.
“We have so many types of patients,,” said John, the owner of Rifle Mountain Dispensary, who asked that his last name not be used as he also owns another business. “We treat people for things such as cancer, epilepsy, severe pain and unstable mental conditions.”
He said the medical marijuana helps patients to relax and deal with their pain better and does so in a natural way instead of using narcotics.
“We've had amazing results with people who have headaches and cancer patients,” John said. “We verify our client's prescriptions and records. We're not doctors, but we try to educate people..”
Along with smokeable marijuana, there are brownies, cupcakes, candies and breads.
The ordinance putting some regulations on where medical marijuana dispensaries could be located went before Rifle City Council members again on Nov. 18.
