Should the City of Thornton endorse illegal drug use and sales?
September 14th, 2009
Should the City of Thornton endorse the use and sale of illegal drugs?
In the next few weeks Thornton City Council is set to delve into what is sure to be a heated debate over whether or not to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. As we all know, the majority of Colorado voters approved the use of medical marijuana in 2000. This of course is counter to federal law which says cultivation and possession of the drug is illegal.
Supposedly there is already one dispensary operating in the city and multiple shop owners waiting in the wings ready to set up shop pending council’s action.
- Update, 10/14/09: The City of Thornton City Council has voted on this issue since this story was posted. Click here for the story.
The basic question before council is this – Do they want the City of Thornton to endorse and profit (via sales tax) from the sale and use of an illegal drug?
At a recent planning session, council heard from Thornton Police Chief Nursey and Cdr. Peters (soon to be head of the North Metro Task Force). Both law enforcement professionals tried to steer council toward the right decision – that of outlawing the dispensaries and not allowing Thornton to be a haven for illegal activities.
Apparently however the professional judgment of two of the city’s top law enforcement officials isn’t good enough for some on council. One councilperson said he wanted to hear from a “more representative panel” and another agreeing saying “we’re only getting one side of the issue.” Are you kidding me? The drug is ILLEGAL! What else do you need to know?
In the past, federal law enforcement agencies raided these ‘dispensaries’ as their activity is wholly illegal. Our current president and his agencies have chosen not to enforce the law as it applies to dispensaries and have discontinued the raids but he won’t be in charge for long (hopefully).
- What happens if / when the federal policy changes and they go back to enforcing the law?
- Does Thornton want to find itself in the news because the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) raided one of these places someday?
- What if after council approves them, one of these places steps outside the bounds of their charge and North Metro Task Force has to be called in to conduct a raid for other illegal activity? There’s a bit of a black eye for the city!
- God forbid, but what if something goes wrong in one of these raids and someone is hurt?
- Do you want one of these places in your neighborhood? Next to your kids’ schools?
- Does council want all of that on their head ? It certainly would fall on them if they allow these facilities.
This is not something I think we would want to be in the news for and it will happen at some point, mark my words.
It is also important to note that while voters approved ‘medical’ marijuana, its prescription and use is virtually unregulated as the law did not address regulation. There is no licensing authority for dispensaries and there are absolutely no regulations regarding them. Heck, there isn’t even any state-level government office you can complain to about them.
Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government and as such pharmacies cannot dispense it and it cannot be prescribed by any health care professional.
Those two things alone should send up warning flags.
Other cities have shown they are willing to allow the illegal drug trade in their cities. Let these folks that want ‘medical’ marijuana drive to Westminster for their drugs – it isn’t that far. The City of Thornton should not be a party to the illegal drug trade.
This is a case if NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard. Thornton should not allow these unregulated and illegal entities into our city. I dunno which council members didn’t think the word of the police was good enough but they should be ashamed.
Broomfield just made their decision and they just said no. Hopefully Thornton will follow suit.
http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/ci_13347113
City Council revisited this issue two weeks ago and determined that they wanted to come to a resolution prior to this years election. The moratorium that had been in place and called for action to be taken by January of 2010 has now been abandoned in favor of a decision being made no later than October 27th (which is the last council meeting prior to the election). There are at least two council members that are leaving council due to term limits and potentially two other seats at stake as well. Apparently the new council just won’t be ready to tackle such a tough issue early in the session.
Thornton deserves better! This is not an ethical issue about the validity of medicinal marijuana… This is a practical issue of whether the city will condone and/or allow these “dispenseries” to exist and operate within city limits – PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I say NO WAY, NO HOW, NOT IN MY TOWN… That’s where I stand…
Call your current council member and let them know how you feel… We teach our kids to “Just Say No”… Apparently it’s time to teach our city council as well!
Way to go, Randy! Now just need to get you on council so your vote counts!
Thanks Tony for a thoughtful article. I think it’s interesting that people are willing to accept the authority of the police when it works in their personal interests but when it doesn’t, suddenly the police have no credibility. Hmmmm…..
Randy, right on!
Colorado voters have spoken and clearly said they want sufferers to have access to marijuana. It is going to be there whether Thornton likes it or not. It is better to benefit from it and provide a service to citizens.
I know this is a heated topic, but I am a medical marijuana user. I have a terminal case of Pancreatic cancer, and don’t have much time. If it wasn’t for Medical marijuana, I’d spend most of my time drifting in and out of consciousness from The narcotic pain prescriptions I have. I don’t want to live my remaining months in a blurr, away from family and friends. Marijuana also helps stimulate my appetite. Since switching to the medical marijuana and getting off of the painkillers, I have gained back 20 of the 42 LBS I lost as a result of Chemo and the associated nausea is non- existant. When I read posts like this, I am astounded and offended by peoples comments, and the tone of the article making me sound like a criminal. All I can say is you people can never understand what this drug can give you back in terms of life, and for me it is one of the only things that allows me to maintain some dignity. I’d be happy to have a dispensary “In my backyard” I know that the people going there need their medicine, just like me, and are some of the friendliest people you would ever meet, if only you kept an open mind.
I understand people have differing viewpoints, and are aware of them, put please, before criticizing something that might not benefit you, ask yourself who it might benefit, I for one feel that I have a right to this treatment, and shouldn’t have to go to the street to get it.
It is ignorant and insulting to believe that a dispensary would bring crime with it. Potheads aren’t violent, drinkers are violent, and kill people every day, yet there are dozens of bars in my immediate vicinity. We’re not trying to hurt anyone, we’re just in pain. I’m fine with driving to denver for my medicine, but I shouldn’t have to, plus we’re in a recession- couldn’t the city use the increase in tax revenue.
One last thing, have you ever seen a dispensary? No? That’s because they aren’t allowed to post signs. It’s not a bunch of drug addicts going to them, it’s people with legitimate medical conditions, recommended by doctors that marijuana may be beneficial to easing their pain, it works, and I sincerely hope that you never have to find out for yourself. Please just consider who you’re labeling drug addicts, and educate yourself instead of spouting off archaic stereotypical viewpoints that don’t make sense.
John,
Thank you for your comments. I certainly sympathize with your condition however for many of us it is a question of the ‘greater good.’ Dispensaries bring an entire gamut of problems into a community and we don’t want them in ours. Nothing in Thornton’s proposals will prevent you from having medical marijuana – you just can’t buy it here. Indeed, you can have a dispensary ‘in your backyard’ – literally – as the ordinance doesn’t prevent that.
The testimony last night would certainly seem to back up the banning of these facilities in the city. From the medical studies that were cited to the real-world results of having the facilities (Northglenn) it is obvious this is nothing the residents of the city of Thornton want.
I don’t quite know what is with the attacking tone as the story had none. No one said it was “drug addicts” using the facilities – those are your own words. The view expressed are my own, plain and simple. I was respectful, cited my reasoning and that was that. Not sure why you can’t do the same.
Finally. Someone that makes sense. Weed is a benifit to those that need it. Anyone should have the right to use it. Most people that don’t even smoke it think it should be legalized. People don’t understand that it would actually reduce crime. One town doesn’t matter, because it’s not going to stop the rest of the state. Come on people, wake up.
Reduce crime? I would love to see the statistics to back that statement up. The exact opposite has proven true here in Colorado – so much so that the State Attorney General announced last night that measures need to be taken to address the problem.
The issue at hand was not the legality of marijuana itself. If there are those that believe it should be legal, them that issue needs to be taken up with the federal government as they are the ones that hold the keys to that Pandora’s Box.
[...] Should the City of Thornton endorse illegal drug use and sales? [...]
[...] Should the City of Thornton endorse illegal drug use and sales? [...]
Lack of information given out here.
You give a great narrative of why it shouldnt be in Thornton but what you dont know is that it already is. Thornton already has a law that makes it legal to run a dispensary out of your HOME. So think about this before you say no to have it in a business. Would you rather someone be selling out of the house next to where you live or would you rather have it in a professional environment where it is monitored and controlled by the city, state, and federal govt. I hear alot of you saying not in my back yard. Guess what its already there and legal by the city and state. So you decide do you want someone down the street selling it out their house where its not regulated or even monitored or the better option have it in a business where it monitored, controlled, and regulated by the government. Whatever you decide before you make a decision educate yourself on both sides of the issue. Think of the revenue that will be generated by the tax of medical Marijuana, instead of raising the community taxes and taxes of small business that are already struggling.
Thornton is meeting again on this Issue Oct. 27th so come and be heard on both sides. Before you come though be sure to read both sides of the issue. What I have read here is definately not as Paul Harvey would say “The rest of the story”.