Thornton set to approve illegal drug trade
October 13th, 2009
Tonight the City of Thornton City Council will decide whether or not to allow the illegal drug trade in our neighborhoods.
Tonight’s the night…. At the Thornton City Council meeting tonight council will decide whether or not to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
We have already outlined why we feel Thornton citizens should be against any measure to bring the illegal drug trade to the city. We sent emails to all the council members and most responded in kind or called personally for a follow-up. Two, Jan Bach and Carol Beckler, failed to even acknowledge the communication (not a great way to treat a constituent).
- 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.
Unless something changes in the next nine hours or so before the council meeting at 7:00pm, it is likely that the majority of council will vote to allow dispensaries in the city. A variety of reasons will be given. Some feel it is a ‘humane’ thing to do. Others don’t think it is the government’s place to restrict access. Some think that the illegal drug is here anyway so what the heck.
Whatever. In the end, those that vote to endorse the drug trade are going against the opinions of the two top law enforcement officers in the city. They will be going against the opinion of their own city staff. They also will be going against their own Businesses of Thornton Advisory Commission.
Oh, and let’s not forget that pesky little thing called FEDERAL LAW that they will be defying since the drug is after all illegal.
- Related: 9/28/09 – Coming soon to your Thornton neighborhood – DEA raids
- Related: 9/14/09 – Should the City of Thornton endorse illegal drug use and sales?
Tonight council will consider approving one of two ordinances– one that would ban the establishments and another that would legalize and attempt to regulate them. I find it fascinating reading to see just how many warning signs there are in the measures.
- If your ordinance has to repeatedly point out that the substance is illegal, that is one clue.
- If your ordinance points out that staff and area businesses are against the measure, that is another.
- If under the ‘duties of licensee’ the city is put in the position of telling a business they can ignore federal law, there is a problem.
- If the business is of such a nature that you must prohibit it from using the words or symbols associated with it, it isn’t a business we want in the city of Thornton.
- If the business applying must sign a statement understanding they may be subject to prosecution under federal law, the city is thus empowering that illegal activity.
- If signs must be posted in the business warning that its patrons are in violation of federal law and the city allows that business, they are a party to that violation of federal law.
You MUST contact city council TODAY and have your voice heard. Scroll down for complete contact information for all council members. Just send them a quick email (or call them) and tell them you are against it – you don’t need to go overly in depth. Council needs to hear from YOU!
Below are just a few things that I picked out of the proposed ordinances that you should take note of. Please visit the City of Thornton’s website for the complete documents.
Key considerations
The federal Controlled Substances Act prohibits the possession, growth and sale of marijuana generally, and is thereby in conflict with Amendment 20.
City Council requested the input of the Businesses of Thornton Advisory Commission regarding the potential impact of medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities. The nine participants at the September 24 meeting unanimously agreed that these facilities would be unfavorable for the City.
The possession, growth, sale and distribution of marijuana remains a violation of federal law, and the City makes no assurances that a medical marijuana business, patient, or care-giver will not be prosecuted by the federal government.
(4) A warning that possession and distribution of marijuana is a violation of federal law, and persons engaged in such conduct may be subject to arrest and prosecution by the federal government.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council define and prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities within the City and adopt ordinance number 1.
Section 18-313.5. Medical marijuana dispensary.
Signage for a medical marijuana dispensary shall not depict any symbol, word, slogan or other representation of marijuana or associated paraphernalia.
Sec. 42-618. Application for license.
(6) A statement by the applicant that the applicant understands that the applicant and the applicant’s employees may be subject to prosecution under federal law and that the applicant has informed all employees of
such;Sec. 42-628. Duties of licensee.
(6) Comply with all applicable federal laws, rules, or regulations, other than a federal law, rule or regulation concerning the possession, sale or distribution of marijuana that conflicts with Amendment 20;
Sec. 42-629. License suspension or revocation.
(2) A violation of any City, State, or federal law or regulation, other than a federal law or regulation concerning the possession, sale or distribution of marijuana that conflicts with Amendment 20;
Sec. 42-634. Required warnings to be posted.
(1) A warning that any person who provides marijuana obtained at this location for non-medical purposes may be in violation of State and federal laws;
(4) A warning that possession and distribution of marijuana is a violation of federal law, and persons engaged in such conduct may be subject to arrest and prosecution by the federal government.
City of Thornton City Council Contact Information
- Mayor Erik Hansen, 303-538-7531, Erik.Hansen@cityofthornton.net
- Mayor Pro Tem Steve Lebsock (Ward I), 303-564-2676, Steve.Lebsock@cityofthornton.net
- Councilmember Jan Bach (Ward I), 303-538-7534, Jan.Bach@cityofthornton.net
- Councilmember Eva Henry (Ward II), 303-538-7536, eva.henry@cityofthornton.net
- Councilmember Carol Beckler (Ward II), 303-538-7535, Carol.Beckler@cityofthornton.net
- Councilmember Beth Humenik (Ward III), 303-538-7532, beth.humenik@cityofthornton.net
- Councilmember Rebecca Cavanaugh-Miller (Ward III), 303-538-7533, Rebecca.Cavanaugh-Miller@cityofthornton.net.
- Councilmember Eric Tade (Ward IV), 303-538-7530, Eric.Tade@cityofthornton.net
- Councilmember Charles Stevenson (Ward IV), 303-538-7201, charles.stevenson@cityofthornton.net
Folks, this is important. I implore all readers to contact their council reps – or better yet contact all nine across the city – and have your voice heard!
If you’re not sure which ward you live in, there is a map available here: http://www.cityofthornton.net/comd/adobe/wards.pdf
Get a life man, quit interfering in others. Plenty of people who pay taxes live in Thornton, and don’t share your right wing, conservative, FOX news type view. It’s 2009, quit with the propaganda and misinformation, and get with the times, perhaps spend your time questioning the real reasons why marijuana is federally illegal, and get used to the fact that on a state level it is a legal and effective treatment option. Do some research, and understand that this measure would reduce crime, taking money off the streets’ black market drug dealers, don’t you realize by keeping it illegal, you’re encouraging growth of violent crime through inadvertent sanctioning of the black market? Take a trip down to Pecos park, and observe the crack and heroine dealers selling their deadly drugs right out of their cars, next to a school, and tell me your priorities are in the right place. People like you are doomed to become the minority, and your comments about Obama (“Hopefully he wont be president much longer”) Speak volumes of your intellectual and reasoning skills, anyone that would consider voting for a party that promotes Palin as a competent, viable candidate for presidency are the real problem with America today, not the non violent pot-heads whose biggest crime is excessive caloric intake. Let us have our constitutional rights, just like you have yours as protected by your 1st amendment rights which allow you to spew your nonsense to whoever will listen to it. There’s already one Glenn Beck the masses can tune into if they enjoy exaggerated extremist right wing jargon. Isn’t that enough?
I appreciate your commentary but a more reasoned response is more likely to actually generate useful discussion. First, the story and the actions of the city of Thornton have nothing to do with whether or not medical marijuana should be legal. That is not even part of the debate. It is illegal and the story reflects that reality as does the city’s decision. Neither changes that fact.
Which part of the story is “misinformation?” I challenge you to find one fact that is not true.
As for the rest of your commentary, there really is no reply to it. You believe what you wish and so be it.
The problem with democracy is that sometimes people disagree with you. Keep up the hard work!
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