Dacono voters to decide on dispensary ban in May 7 election

    DACONO — The city’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries went into effect Dec. 31. At that time, all operations had to cease, and the owners of the dispensaries were required to destroy all marijuana products.
    But the debate about the ban is not yet over.
    Before the dispensaries closed, a petition was circulated to bring the issue before Dacono voters.
    During its Jan. 2 meeting, Council selected May 7 as the date for this special election.
    Councilman Steve Bruno reminded council that he advocated for the issue to go before the voters when the ban was approved June 11.
    “Six months later, we now leave three businesses ruined,” Bruno said. “It’s akin to picking a car lot and crushing all the cars and saying, ‘Hey, in four months, you can open back up again.’”
     The dispensary owners sought a preliminary injunction to stay in business until the special election. But in Weld County Court, Judge Dinsmore Tuttle ruled Dec. 27 that the situation didn’t meet the strict guidelines for preliminary injunctions set by the Colorado Supreme Court.
    Since the ban was approved in June, Colorado voters took to the polls to pass Amendment 64, which legalizes marijuana for recreational use. A majority of voters in Dacono and across Carbon Valley supported Amendment 64.
    But neither the medical or recreational use of marijuana is allowed under federal law.
    Community Development Director Jennifer Krieger said in June that it was this contradiction that prompted city staff to seek the ban on the dispensaries.

Contact Ben Wiebesiek at bwiebesiek@metrowestnewspapers.com.