The Colorado Springs City Council has advised code enforcement officers to start enforcing city regulations that effectively ban medical marijuana dispensaries.

The city bans businesses that are in violation of the law, and growing marijuana remains illegal under federal law, even though Colorado law allows people to grow and possess small amounts for medical purposes.

Colorado Springs has three code enforcement officers. The city's land use review manager Dick Anderwald says that because of staff cuts, his office will initiate cases only when it receives complaints.

An Obama administration policy announced last week loosened guidelines on federal prosecution of medical marijuana.

The regulation options were brought before Springs city council members Monday afternoon at City Hall. Police Chief Richard Myers and the District Attorney's office offered options such as land use and zoning regulations, along with sales tax enforcement.

Law enforcement agencies say the dispensaries, which now number more than a dozen in El Paso County, in addition to even more personal growing operations, and dispensary supplier operations. Authorities say the operations raise the risk of violent crimes in neighborhoods along with the possibility of fire hazards (the equipment used in such growing operations could pose a risk if not setup correctly).

Today, Mayor Lionel Rivera also agreed with other council members about using code enforcement as a possible way in the short term to control medical marijuana dispensary growth. "If our code enforcement [officers] are going to go out to cite little guys selling an ice cream cone, then where's the equity in not enforcing the code...across the city," said Mayor Rivera.

Another option that could allow for a more long term solution is that the city could adapt to the state's Amendment 20 and begin developing regulations with help from those in the medical dispensary industry.

Monday, council members Sean Paige, Tom Gallagher and Randy Purvis suggested forming a sort of task force to figure out a solution which would include people from the community and industry. "We're into a whole new area here, I don't think we're going to turn back the clock, I think we're going to have to adapt... I think that it's time to accept that this is the will of the people, and it's going to more and more become the will of the people, and instead of just reacting, negatively, I think, though it's messy...in time order will come out of the chaos," said Sean Paige, the city's newest council member.

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