COS City Council gives initial approval to ammended medical marijuana facility moratorium

Colorado Springs City Council gave its initial approval to an amended moratorium on medical marijuana facilities.

The moratorium would go into effect in November and last six months. It would apply to new medical marijuana dispensaries, manufacturers of infused products and grows. Existing medical marijuana facilities would be allowed to stay open, but they wouldn’t be allowed to expand or change locations.

On Tuesday, council members Keith King and Tom Strand introduced several amendments to the proposed moratorium.

One of the amendments would allow existing medical marijuana facilities to change locations if its owners face hardships. The city clerk would determine whether the hardships are valid. And if denied, an owner would appeal them through the regular business licensing appeal process.

Another amendment establishes a task force to advise council. It would be compromised of at least one representative of the city clerk’s office, an attorney with significant experience representing the marijuana industry, a representative of the city’s law enforcement, a representative of the city attorney’s office, a representative of the city’s planning department, a representative of a local marijuana business, a representative from a local neighborhood organization and a representative from the mayor’s office.

Because of the changes, council must vote again on the moratorium in two weeks.