Fremont County commissioners move pot grow vote because of plant number
Fremont County is looking to have its own marijuana home grow rules.
The county currently follows the state’s standards but one commissioner said the plant count is too high.
Commissioners presented a revised marijuana home grow ordinance during a meeting Tuesday.
They voted unanimously to push the vote to April 12 after hearing public comment.
It was a packed room full of people with differing opinions.
One man praised the commissioners with coming up with their own rules, another citizen was asking what the point of the rules were since the state has already made rules for growing marijuana.
Nathan Robinson is caretaker with six patients. He grows as many as 140 plants to facilitate their needs. He said he’s happy with the state’s standard based on how many plants a doctor recommends to their patients.
“It’s more personal. I can get in tune with each person’s needs,” he said.
State law also permits six plants for each person who is over the age of 21.
The county’s proposed ordinance has each home limited to 18 plants.
As for caretakers, the county has allowed each caretaker to grow 36 plants inside their homes, along with 99 plants to grow outside.
Robinson said the proposed ordinance could affect his and others’ abilities to serve their patients.
“For a lot of people that use it as an edible or anything with butter or anything it takes a lot more,” he said.
Commissioner Debbie Bell said the proposed number of plants is too generous. She wants to lower the amount of plants for caretakers to 36.
“My main concern is opening up Fremont County to look as though we want all of the overflow from Pueblo County,” she said.
As for Robinson’s concern, she said there can be a compromise.
“If anyone wants to go beyond that count of 36 plants, they are going to have to come to us on a case-by-case individual basis,” she said.
The proposed rules would impact all of Fremont County except Canon City, Florence, Rockvale, Brookside, Williamsburg and Coal Creek.
If you want to view the most recent proposed ordinance click here.
