The majority of respondents to an Organization of Westside Neighbors survey about medical marijuana believe that there is a need for the alternative drug but also that the city has an obligation to regulate the industry. Respondents favor liquor store-type laws.

OWN mailed the survey to 7,900 homes on Colorado Springs’ west side and received 171 responses by Nov. 30.

Results:

– 72 percent believe there is a need for medical marijuana

– 74 percent believe separate distances from other medical marijuana facilities, at a minimum, be equal to that of liquor store criteria

– 81 percent believe the city should notify parents of minors receiving medical marijuana

– 83 percent believe the city has an obligation and duty to properly regulate and enforce city ordinances with regard to commercial operations in mixed-use neighborhoods

– 33 percent believe current city ordinaces adequately address medical marijuana businesses and density

– 72 percent believe the city should adopt an ordinance that mirrors the El Paso County land-use regulations

– 83 percent believe standoff distrances from homes, schools and churches be at a minimum equal to that of liquor store criteria

–37 percent believe the city shoudl place a ballot issue for banning medical marijuana facilities within city limits oon the ballot for voter approval, as EL Paso County did on the Nov. 2 ballot

– 33 percent believe the city should ban medical marijuana businesses in city limits

On Dec. 15, City Council rejected stringent zoning regulations for medical marijuana, instead agreeing to a 400-foot buffer between centers and grade schools, residential child care facilities and drug and alcohol rehab centers.

Businesses are banned from residential zones, but can be allowed in industrial and office complex zones.

El Paso County still has temporary land use regulations in place for its existing medical marijuana facilities, which also restrict zoning and proximities  to certain facilities.