The city council vote tally board on the medical marijuana dispensary issue. The yes votes are those in favor of NOT allowing dispensaries.

In a very long, sometimes emotional and slightly heated discussion last night, Thornton City Council voted to not allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.  In a 7 – 2 vote, the city upheld the belief that the detrimental effects of allowing these “businesses” to operate within the city by far outweighed any benefit to the drug’s users.

The public testimony on the issue took up the bulk of the time and some citizens on both sides of the issue (including myself) left before they had their opportunity to speak as the meeting ran late.  A prior hearing on an unrelated issue went very long so it wasn’t until 9:20pm that the hearing on medical marijuana began. 

Once the marijuana hearing started, the first speaker monopolized more than 40 minutes of time thus somewhat unfairly making it difficult for other citizens to have an opportunity to have their voices heard.  I suppose though that it shows council wanted to hear complete and full testimony from all sides before rendering a decision and that is appreciated. 

• Click here to go to the City of Thornton’s website and watch the video.

Two people spoke in favor of allowing the drug.  Council afforded Cathy Burds  wide latitude in excess of the normal five minutes of testimony as she told her own story of a battle with cancer and her desire to provide the illegal drug to others.  Mary Payne, a candidate for Ward I, spoke in favor of it as well relaying the story of her Vietnam veteran husband that used the drug for 20 years. 

It was interesting to note that Burds devoted more time discussing what was wrong with the ordinance that would have allowed the dispensaries rather than stating the case to allow them in the first place.  It would have seemed to me to be more important to get the dispensaries approved first and that is likely where her emphasis should have been placed if she wanted to have a chance at victory. 

Perhaps belaying the emotions behind the issue, her testimony was occasionally combative and certainly gave the impression that unrestricted access was the only thing that would have made her happy.  It was ironic that she ran to federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations to protect patient privacy while obviously not wanting to abide by the federal law that makes the drug illegal in the first place. 

Above and by far those against allowing dispensaries outnumbered those in favor.  A number of residents and business owners spoke in opposition.  One citizen submitted a petition against the measure with 70+ signatures from across the four city wards and 10 citizens that did not speak stood when asked if they opposed it. 

Among those speaking against dispensaries: 

• A number of Thornton business owners and members of the Thornton Business Advisory Task Force spoke how they did not want dispensaries near them and said they would hurt their business.  Some said they would not setup a new business if a dispensary was in the area. 
• One Thornton resident came armed with studies questioning the medical benefits of marijuana and provided some of the most interesting testimony.  It was a shame that council chose to enforce the time limit on this person but not others. 
• Keep Thornton Beautiful (KTB) spoke against the resolution believing it would undermine the efforts the non-profit has taken toward improving Thornton’s image.
• Providing a first-hand look at the effect of dispensaries in a neighborhood was the operator of the pawn shop located in the Garland Shopping Center in Northglenn.  He relayed the effects of the city of Northglenn’s ordinance allowing dispensaries that drove home the point of why dispensaries should not be allowed.  Hundreds of medical marijuana patients overwhelming the center, questionable dispensing practices by the store, busses from other cities bringing patients, and more.  It was particularly interesting to note that the pawn shop owner testified that the dispensary was handing out free drink coupons to the nearby bar for customers so they would have something to do while they waited. 
• One lady arrived with a business card for the Northglenn dispensary in hand and told a rather disturbing tale about how her granddaughter was at Boondocks and given the card and told by someone that she could get marijuana there. 
• Lastly were two 19-year-old young ladies who spoke of their belief that marijuana was too easy to obtain now and they did not want to see it made any easier.  One told how one of her constituents was able to obtain a medical marijuana card without truly needing the drug.  They spoke how they had been told by peers how easy the cards were to get by simply complaining enough about an ailment or going to see one of the questionable doctors. 

During the council comments on the issue, two spoke in favor of allowing the facilities.  Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller cited her husband’s personal experience and how the drug would help him if it were allowed.  Steve Lebsock led the charge in favor of the facilities offering a host of reasons to allow them. 

Lebsock failed to break any new ground or offer a compelling reason as to why dispensaries should be allowed or why the majority of citizens should suffer the effects to benefit few.  He stated that the drug was legal in the state of Colorado which is not true as federal law trumps state law and there is no way around that.  More than once he equated medical marijuana to liquor which of course ignores the fact that one is legal and the other is not.  Further, you can’t justify one evil by citing another – it simply doesn’t make sense.  He also lamented the lack of medical professionals giving testimony which perhaps is a statement unto itself as to whether or not marijuana really has a medical benefit. 

Those council members that voted to prohibit the dispensaries cited a number of reasons including the lack of accountability, practicality of enforcement, conflict with federal laws, store owner greed and questionable operating practices by doctors.  As more than one council member pointed out, there was nothing to keep patients from obtaining the drug quite easily in other municipalities.  The city of Thornton simply does not want the detrimental effects these operations bring. 

It was also important to note that just like in the public testimony, more than one council member said the opinions they received from their constituents was overwhelmingly against allowing the facilities.  The citizens of Thornton simply do not want it.  It was also noted that city staff recommended not approving the facilities, the city’s own business advisory board did not recommend it and the city’s police chief was vehemently opposed. 

I am pleased at the action of Thornton City Council last night and not just because I agree with the outcome.  They carried out their due diligence and handled a difficult issue with great aplomb.

As a side note, a friendly amendment was added forcing council to review the issue in 24 months.  I find this entirely inappropriate.  It is not fair for this council to put any sort of a mandate such as that on the next council.  The next council should be free to determine their own agenda.  They deserve the freedom to take up the issue if they so choose and on a timetable of their own making. 

I have been asked as well on what I based my opinions on in regards to the medical marijuana dispensary issue.  Over the last month I have looked at literally dozens of opinion pieces, medical-related stories and journals, law enforcement opinions, and more.  Below are links to just a few.  As you follow them, I would recommend doing as I did and check out any bibliography that is included in the story as they oftentimes lead to more useful resources. 

• California Police Chiefs – Law Enforcement Concerns to Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
• Marijuana and medicine: Assessing the science base – Institute of Medicine
• Exposing the Myth of Smoked Medical Marijuana
• Florida Police Chiefs Association position paper
• National Institute of Health – Workshop on the Medical Utility of Marijuana
• FDA – Inter-Agency Advisory Regarding Claims That Smoked Marijuana Is a Medicine
• DEA – Marijuana: The Myths Are Killing Us (great bibliography)
• City of Anaheim  Police Department – Medical Marijuana Dispensary (MMD) Ban Ordinance
• Drug Legalization: Why It Wouldn’t Work in the United States

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