New rules set for medical marijuana

Boulder tests new regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries.

It all started in November 2000 when Colorado voters approved amendment 20. This amendment currently authorizes the use of marijuana to ease certain unbearable medical conditions, which include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, cachexia, severe pain and nausea, seizures and multiple sclerosis.

People with debilitating conditions or their caregivers who have been granted a Medical Marijuana Registry Identification card can only posses two ounces or less of a usable form of marijuana and no more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer mature buds.

In recent months medical marijuana has caused quite a debate as more dispensaries keep popping up in Boulder.

This dispute was loud and clear on Nov. 11 when the Boulder City Council voted on a set of interim rules for the marijuana dispensaries around Boulder.

Creating these rules, which will expire on March 31, 2010, will give the city time to study whether or not to renew them or create different rules.

Boulder’s temporary rules regulating medical marijuana dispensaries are as follows:

• Dispensaries must be 500 feet away from schools and licensed day care centers
• Dispensaries cannot open in areas that have three plus dispensaries within 500 feet
• New dispensaries cannot operate in home or residential zones

These rules only apply to new dispensaries that now seek a sales tax license or did after November 6, 2009.