Legal Commentary

Aspen: Marijuana Dispensaries to Be Zoned Like Pharmacies

By Jeralyn

Medical marijuana dispensaries have been cropping up along the Front Range in Colorado. Already established in Basalt and Carbondale, two in Aspen are planning on opening.

Aspen's community development director issued an opinion Wednesday that the zoning code does not prohibit dispensaries just because it doesn't specifically recognize them. He says they should be zoned just like pharmacies.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed anywhere in Aspen that allows an office, the city’s top planning director said Thursday.

...Aspen’s land-use code does not specifically recognize marijuana dispensaries but Chris Bendon, the city’s community development director, said his office examined various zoning definitions and determined the dispensaries should generally be treated like pharmacies.

Bendon's report will now go to the City Council for approval. What's causing this "brave new world"? [More...]

Voters in November 2000 approved Amendment 20, which authorizes the legalization of marijuana for certain debilitating health conditions. That, combined with a statement from the Obama administration’s drug czar that the federal government won’t crack down on medicinal marijuana dispensaries, has hatched a brave new world for the marijuana business.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 21, 2009 (boomark / email).