Montrose taking steps towards banning pot shops

Montrose is one step closer to putting a ban on pot shops before they even come to town.  It was the hot topic at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

"In the city of Montrose, even though amendment 64 passed statewide, there would be a ban on the amendment," Mayor Thomas Smits explained.

A temporary moratorium has been proposed.

"It would essentially put a freeze on any regulations that apply to the new amendment to the state constitution," Smits said.

"This would simply keep regular shops, like a liquor store, from selling marijuana,” mayor pro-tem Judy Ann Files said.

The city council, Tuesday, passed the moratorium through its first stage of voting.  It needs another vote before it becomes law.

"At this point I haven't heard opposition from anyone within city limits," Smits said.

On one hand, the Montrose city council is concerned about meeting the needs of its residents.

"We as a council want to make sure we our doing what our constituents and city voters want and what's best for our community," Files said.

But, the city is also concerned about maintaining safety and welfare.

"Anytime the voters pass something statewide and then a municipality tries to enact what the voters will, there's always discussion," Smits said.

City council members will seek public comment at a second meeting on December 4th. Then they'll vote again, and if the moratorium passes a second time it will be put into effect immediately.