Teh One Who Knocks
08-21-2012, 11:21 AM
By John Ingold - The Denver Post
http://i.imgur.com/6Em0Al.jpg
The Denver City Council on Monday gave final approval to a ban of all outdoor medical-marijuana advertising in the city.
No billboards. No posters or bus benches or windshield leaflets. No sign-twirlers.
In a vote that lasted less than a minute, the council approved the citywide ban unanimously. Moments later, the council unanimously voted to kill an alternate, more limited plan that would have blocked outdoor medical-marijuana ads within 1,000 feet of schools, day cares and parks.
After a public hearing last week during which medical-marijuana advocates split over a citywide ban and council members voiced strong support for it, Monday's vote was largely a foregone conclusion.
Before the vote on the citywide ban, Councilwoman Debbie Ortega, who sponsored both proposals, said, "To be clear, this is the bill we're voting yes on."
She later thanked the city staffers and medical-pot advocates for their input on the bills.
While in agreement that some forms of advertising — such as sign-spinners — go too far, medical-marijuana supporters were divided on the ban.
The Medical Marijuana Industry Group supported a citywide ban, arguing that it was a showing of good faith by the businesses that they are eager to fit into their communities.
"We are glad to see that the ordinance passed," the group's executive director, Mike Elliott, said after the vote. "We believe it finds the right balance between protecting the interests of both the city and the medical-marijuana community."
Other groups, such as the Cannabis Business Alliance, were more leery, worrying that it would curtail promotional activities such as providing branded T-shirts or hats to patients. But, after city officials said the ban wouldn't cover that type of activity, alliance spokeswoman Kristen Thomson said the organization feels better about it. However, she said, she still wishes the city had targeted specific problems rather than enacting a sweeping bill.
"While we're not pleased with the outcome, we're confident that the rules have been clearly established," she said.
The ban will not prevent dispensaries from placing ads in newspapers or magazines or online. Businesses can also have their logo displayed at charity events they sponsor.
http://i.imgur.com/6Em0Al.jpg
The Denver City Council on Monday gave final approval to a ban of all outdoor medical-marijuana advertising in the city.
No billboards. No posters or bus benches or windshield leaflets. No sign-twirlers.
In a vote that lasted less than a minute, the council approved the citywide ban unanimously. Moments later, the council unanimously voted to kill an alternate, more limited plan that would have blocked outdoor medical-marijuana ads within 1,000 feet of schools, day cares and parks.
After a public hearing last week during which medical-marijuana advocates split over a citywide ban and council members voiced strong support for it, Monday's vote was largely a foregone conclusion.
Before the vote on the citywide ban, Councilwoman Debbie Ortega, who sponsored both proposals, said, "To be clear, this is the bill we're voting yes on."
She later thanked the city staffers and medical-pot advocates for their input on the bills.
While in agreement that some forms of advertising — such as sign-spinners — go too far, medical-marijuana supporters were divided on the ban.
The Medical Marijuana Industry Group supported a citywide ban, arguing that it was a showing of good faith by the businesses that they are eager to fit into their communities.
"We are glad to see that the ordinance passed," the group's executive director, Mike Elliott, said after the vote. "We believe it finds the right balance between protecting the interests of both the city and the medical-marijuana community."
Other groups, such as the Cannabis Business Alliance, were more leery, worrying that it would curtail promotional activities such as providing branded T-shirts or hats to patients. But, after city officials said the ban wouldn't cover that type of activity, alliance spokeswoman Kristen Thomson said the organization feels better about it. However, she said, she still wishes the city had targeted specific problems rather than enacting a sweeping bill.
"While we're not pleased with the outcome, we're confident that the rules have been clearly established," she said.
The ban will not prevent dispensaries from placing ads in newspapers or magazines or online. Businesses can also have their logo displayed at charity events they sponsor.